West Brom's Salomon Rondon making an impression at Newcastle United

Salomon Rondon’s start to his season-long loan at Newcastle United had been blighted by injury, but on Saturday, the Venezuelan bagged a brace in their crucial 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

They were his first two league goals for the club, and only the second time Rondon has scored more than once in a Premier League match.

But it is more than just those goals which have impressed the Geordie faithful and boss Benitez.

Thanks to his relentless work rate, Rondon has been well-received in Newcastle, and talk in the North East has already turned towards a potential permanent deal.

Rondon’s Albion contract runs until the summer of 2020 after the Baggies activated an extra year in their favour in the summer.

There is no obligation to purchase either him or Gayle in the loan swap agreed between the two clubs and talks are unlikely to begin until towards the end of season.

At the moment, there are too many variables at play. As well as the ongoing saga over Newcastle’s ownership, there is also uncertainty over which division either club will be in.

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez confirmed it was too early to say whether the Magpies would try and sign Rondon next summer, but admitted it would be considered if he continued to put in such impressive performances.

“When you sign people, they are not judged on one game,” Benitez told the Northern Echo. “I have no idea about the terms of the contract, but if he keeps scoring two goals a game, of course.

“If he keeps scoring goals, (managing director) Lee Charnley will be looking at the terms of the contract and worrying about that.”

Rondon had a £16.5million release clause in his contract last summer, which Newcastle declined to meet.

The Magpies only ever wanted the striker on loan, which caused Albion to ask for Gayle to come the other way.

“We knew about the conditions to sign Rondon,” said Benitez. “The release clause, and at that price, to get a player with his experience and his level in the Premier League, it is not easy.

“We had a list of players and we knew about his mentality and that he could bring something different.

“He was the number one target because of the price. I liked the player, I was in contact with his agent working on the possibility.

"It was more difficult, but when West Brom were so interested in Dwight Gayle, we knew there was a possibility because we had the second striker with pace and mobility in Yoshinori Muto at the same time.”

Both strikers are now making an impact, and while it’s still early days, there is a growing possibility that temporary swap could become a permanent one.