RAFAEL BENITEZ is happy that his faith in Salomon Rondon is being justified after the striker claimed a second-half winner in Newcastle United’s 1-0 victory at Huddersfield Town.

Benitez spent most of the summer urging the Newcastle hierarchy to sign Rondon, and while the Magpies were unable to agree a permanent deal for the West Brom forward, they eventually settled on a season-long loan.

Rondon is keen to make a permanent move to Tyneside at the end of the season, and Benitez has been delighted with his form in the last few weeks.

This afternoon’s goal was his fourth in the last six league games, with Newcastle’s win lifting them six points clear of the bottom three.

Benitez said: “The main for strikers is to create chances for them. In this case, he is working really hard for the team.

“We had to adjust the shape of the team at half-time, and we had more control in the second half. He did a great job and finished with a great goal.

“He is doing what we expected a striker of his experience to do – score goals and hold the ball up well, especially away from home.

“It is an important win because we were playing a team close to us. We felt the pressure, and they did too.”

Rondon’s goal settled a game of few chances, with the Venezuelan rounding off a slick counter-attacking move that took Newcastle from one end of the pitch to the other.

Martin Dubravka made a fine first-half save to keep out a long-range free-kick from Philliup Billing, but despite Huddersfield dominating possession in the second half, Newcastle’s five-man defence held out with a minimum of fuss.

Benitez said: “When you are playing away, it is totally different to when you are playing against teams at home.

“In this case, we knew we were playing against a team who would be on front foot, pushing. They would be high and leave so much space, and we needed to exploit that.

“At home, normally teams are well organised, waiting for your mistakes, and it can be more difficult.

“Today, they were pushing, but you have to praise our players, defending really, really well. We had more control in the second half, and we did well on the counter-attack once and also the second time, which I think was onside.

“The idea was to exploit the space we had behind, and do well on the counter-attack. But we also had to defend well against a physically strong side.”