Rafa eyes Ash cash

RAFA BENITEZ believes he will be given transfer funds to strengthen relegationthreatened Newcastle.

The Toon boss is confident owner Mike Ashley will loosen the purse strings now he has seen the problems.

He attended the last five games, with Newcastle winless and failing to score in four of them. Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Southampton equalled the club’s worst league start in 120 years – no wins in 10 games.

Benitez feels he was badly let down by his chairman in the last few transfer windows and has had a series of meetings with his scouting team and identified January targets.

Having been in regular contact with managing director Lee Charnley, he is under the impression Ashley will back him. “We have to be mentally strong and carry on to be sure that in January we’re in a good position and then hopefully can improve,” he said.