WE ARE STILL 100% BEHIND RAFA

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RAFA BENITEZ has been backed “100 per cent” by keeper Martin Dubravka – after the under-fire boss cancelled a Sky TV appearance.

Newcastle manager Benitez hauled in his players for training on Sunday and tough-talking debriefs have been held to shake things up on Tyneside.

He will also hold a series of individual chats with players this week, involving analysing clips of good and bad parts of their performances.

Benitez was due to be an analyst on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football Show, reviewing the weekend’s action before Arsenal played Leicester.

But he cancelled the rare appearance, concluding it would not be a good look with Toon bottom of the league and without a win.

Sky’s Jamie Carragher

(right) is a friend of Benitez and helped persuade him to share his expertise. The Magpies boss had previously resisted, because of the media’s personality-based approach. He prefers to pick clips of games and give proper tactical insight, and had hoped to do that on MNF.

He was replaced by Graeme Souness, but remains in charge at St James’ Park after speaking briefly to owner Mike Ashley on Saturday night and being told it was business as usual.

Keeper Dubravka, 29, has insisted the playing staff are still backing their boss, whose methodical approach has been questioned amid calls for greater intensity on the pitch.

Dubravka said: “We’re 100 per cent behind him and he’s 100 per cent behind us. Anything else is just speculation and rumours.

“I don’t think it’s time to panic now as there are still a lot of games in front of us. We can still take some points. I know that it can happen really soon.

“If we can take some victories, the confidence will go higher. All of us are behind each other, behind the manager. All the club are supporting us. I don’t think it’s time to speculate.” Newcastle are winless in nine games, with five consecutive defeats at home. Benitez needs an upturn at Southampton this weekend and then at home to Watford.

Dubravka (left) added: “Everyone knows we were the better team against Brighton.

“But we didn’t score. It’s not only about the strikers, it’s all the team. We need to create better chances, no matter how and who.”