Newcastle United legend Rob Lee believes Rafa Benitez has done a wonderful job, but does not agree with his rotation policy
"I’m sure all you Newcastle United fans, like me, are desperate for this international break to be over.
"And I bet the majority of the Magpies squad, particularly those who have been left back on Tyneside over the past fortnight, will be keen to get back into action too.
"It’s funny because, when you’re actually playing international football, you want a break just like the players who have been at the training ground for the last week or so have had.
"But, when you’re not playing international football but you’re playing well for your club, you just want it to end and the games to come thick and fast.
"In a league like the Championship though, that little rest can make all of the difference.
"Whenever I was playing well and my confidence was up, I always wanted to play football. You wanted the games to arrive.
"I’ve never bought into this idea that players need a ‘rest’.
"Sometimes I think a rest doesn’t do you any good at all.
"That squad is by far the best in the Championship. Yes it’s nowhere near a Premier League squad, but it is so much stronger than any other in that division.
"When players are out of form or have little niggles then we can easily replace them, with Isaac Hayden and Jack Colback able to swap places for example, or Chancel Mbemba in for Ciaran Clark.
"But, just because Newcastle have a big squad, that doesn’t mean there should be changes made to the team for every match.
"I have to be honest, I’d have hated Rafa Benitez’s rotation policy as a player.
"If you’re playing well, then the last thing you want to happen is for you to be rested.
"All you want is that continuity and the opportunity to just keep playing well, keep playing well, keep playing well.
"I understand why Benitez does it, but if your confidence is high then you want to stay in the team.
"Look at Leicester City last year - they hardly made any changes to their side, barely got any injuries and had a season beyond their wildest dreams.
"If your players are fit and you’re winning week in, week out, then keep the same team.
"I don’t buy into this idea of ‘tiredness’. I never did when I played, and I don’t now.
"If you’re playing badly then you’re in danger of getting dropped. If you’re playing well and somebody else says you’re tired because your stats are going down in training, I don’t believe in that and I just don’t agree with it.
"It’s all about confidence and continuity whether you’re playing park football or international football.
"I’d just like Newcastle to stick to the same team if they’re playing well.
"You don’t want Dwight Gayle scoring a couple of goals and then not playing. Then Aleksandar Mitrovic coming in and, as soon as he has a bit of rhythm, him being dropped as well."