Rafa Benitez axes winger - but NUFC outcast set for surprise second chance?

As revealed late last night, Achraf Lazaar HAS now been named in Rafa Benitez's 25-man squad for the Premier League - however fellow outcast Rolando Aarons has been axed, failing to be given a place in the Newcastle United squad.

The pair weren't handed squad numbers when they were released a few weeks ago, however it seems Rafa may be ready to give Moroccan international Lazaar a second chance - with us lacking depth and full-back and him failing to earn any move away this summer.

Time will tell if he is able to impress in training and force his way back into Rafa's plans, but he's been given a glimmer of hope; something Aarons has not been lucky enough to receive.

https://twitter.com/ChronicleNUFC/status/1036883678713077761

Young right-back Jamie Sterry made the cut - presumably due to our total lack of full-backs - and the likes of Sean Longstaff, Freddie Woodman, Cal Roberts and Yannick Toure have also been included in the club’s long list of youngsters eligible to play.

With this in mind, it makes you wonder if something's gone on with Aarons. He failed to earn himself a loan move away - despite 'interest' from Rangers, Hull and AEK Athens - and now he'll be left out in the cold until January at least.

Here's the full squad list:

Atsu, Clark, Darlow, Diame, Dubravka, Dummett, Elliot, Fernandez, Hayden, Joselu, Kenedy, Ki, Lascelles, Lazaar, Lejeune, Manquillo, Murphy, Muto, Perez, Ritchie, Rondon, Schar, Shelvey, Sterry, Yedlin.