Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KEEGAN IN SHADE AS THE TOON SHINE AWAY FOR BENITEZ
RAFA BENITEZ and his migrating Magpies believe they can make a permanent nest in the Premier League next season – thanks to their defiant away form.
Benitez has put Kevin Keegan in the shade by masterminding a Newcastle promotion based on a record 14 victories away from St James’ Park.
That is one better than the Toon managed under the inspirational Keegan when they made a titlewinning ascent to the Premier League back in 1993.
The new mark was set on Friday night with a 2-0 victory at Cardiff City and boss Benitez said:
“There are a lot of positives we can take forward from our away performances.
“We have broken the record and that was an excellent reaction from the players because we had already won promotion.
“We have confidence and we are already thinking pre-season. We know that you have to do things in advance.
“All my life I have worked to a business plan. It is what you have to do.
“The question is where we are, how much money, can we do it with money if we sell players, which players are good enough, which players we have to change.”
Benitez (above) will meet club owner Mike Ashley within days to discuss plans for next season and has already hinted he needs to buy at least eight new players to avoid familiar struggles at the highest level.
Benitez insisted he wants co-operation with Ashley and his board and added: “It’s so simple. When you have a manager and a managing director, you have the football operation and business operation.
“Then, we have to communicate every day and have the same ideas.”
One player Benitez is considering adding permanently to his squad for next season is Christian Atsu, currently on loan from Chelsea.
The Ghanaian winger scored a brilliant free-kick in the victory over Cardiff but Benitez insisted: “The future of a player does not change with one action or one goal.
“We know that he is a good player, and we have to decide, but I’m really pleased with him. “It is just a question to see where we are in terms of squad and decide.”
Newcastle’s other scorer on their record-breaking night, midfielder Isaac Hayden, is convinced the Benitez bandwagon can continue to roll when they visit Premier League opposition next season.
“The manager’s been fantastic since he’s come in and everyone’s worked really hard,” said Hayden.
“We’ve shown we can play our best, even when we are away from home. We’re on the way up now and hopefully we can kick on in the Premier League.”