Nobby Solano has challenged Rodrigo Vilca to stake his claim for club and country - by making a success of his loan spell at Universitario. Vilca waved farewell to his team-mates at Newcastle until 2023 when the club agreed a loan deal with the Liga 1 side in his native Peru.
The spotlight in his homeland is now firmly back on the 23-year-old with the attacking midfielder making two appearances for the South American club so far without getting on the scoresheet or creating an assist. Vilca is back on Solano's radar with the Peru coach set to keep tabs on Vilca.
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Solano has offered Vilca some advice and has an open dialogue with the Lima-born player. But he knows after two seasons on Tyneside and a luke warm loan at Doncaster he must start hitting the heights soon.
When asked what Vilca needs to do to become a success at St James' Park, Solano told Chronicle Live: "Rodrigo has to do a lot, he has to do a lot. "It won't be easy for most players at Newcastle now.
"Getting into the squad won't be easy. Rodrigo is still a Newcastle player and he has to remember that. Doing well back in Peru can help him a lot. But it's up to him now.
"He has to get into form, help win games with Universitario and then see where he is next year. Look at Man City, they loan players out around the world and some find it hard to get back into the squad so it's a big challenge."
Success with one of Peru's most famous clubs in the shape of Universitario could even earn him a place in the World Cup squad should his country qualify for the finals in Qatar. Solano says that such a possibility should be a major incentive for him.
Solano said: "Rodrigo Vilca has joined Universitario and he must first get into the team and show what he's got. Universitario aren't doing well at the moment but it's still only the start of the season.
"He will have a lot of minutes on the pitch if he wants them, it depends on him. He can get some good experience and if he does well, who knows?
"Perhaps Rodrigo can have a chance to play at the World Cup with Peru if we qualify, it's really up to him. I played for Universitario in 2009 and then went to Leicester in 2010 so I know the club well."
Solano was a legend with Newcastle over two spells but he is now regarded as one of the top coaches on the international circuit and has enjoyed great success as assistant to Ricardo Gareca. The pair won hearts and minds in 2016 when dumping Brazil out of the Copa America before reaching the final itself in 2019, only to be beaten by Seleção.
And they also led little Peru to the World Cup finals in 2018 for the first time since 1982. Solano has been a major part in the adventure and shown what he can do as a coach.
Solano said: "I'm glad Geordie fans follow Peru's results and remember me. "We have crucial games, one against Uruguay away and Uruguay are desperate to be in the same situation as us, to win to be able to qualify.
"This will be a very difficult and tough match but we have the experience. We played Colombia away and won and we hope we can play in the same way. Then we finish against Paraguay at home so we are still in with a shout of qualifying directly or a place in the play-offs. "
After an illustrious playing career in the Premier League and Champions League with Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa, Solano's aim is now to be back on the World Cup stage as coach. A huge win over Uruguay this week would help take them to Qatar.
Solano reflected: "It was a wonderful experience to be able to coach at the World Cup finals. We played against France, Australia and Denmark and did OK. It was our first qualification for 36 years and the country was very excited. "Everybody is now excited again for Qatar 2022 and whether we can get there.
"We had that experience of it and we want to go back again to the best competition in football. "If you can experience that as a player or coach you have done well. We're close to qualifying and hopefully, fingers crossed we can go back to a World Cup."
