Ashley call gives Mags boss boost

Rafa Benitez has spoken to Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley – in an attempt to plot a way forward.

Benitez desperately needs to strengthen his squad in next month’s transfer window.

Newcastle are 18th in the Premier League after losing eight of their last nine games.

And Benitez reiterated the need for new signings ahead of this afternoon’s game at West Ham, having given the same message to Ashley, who put the club up forsaleinOctober a n d has rejected a bid from Amand a Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners.

“We’ve been in contact talking about how to move forward,” said Benitez.

“We’re progressing, and I have confidence we will do well.

“Exactly as I’m expecting? I don’t know, but I have confidence we can do something that will be important for the team.”

Benitez hadn’t spoken to Ashley since May, when the pair met for talks in the wake of the Magpies’ promotion to the Premier League.

“I’m talking with Lee (Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director) every day,” said Benitez.

“I was also in contact with Mike Ashley. We have phones – it’s very easy to do!

“We were talking about January – that’s the main thing.

“That we have to do what we have to do to improve the team and be sure we can compete and stay in the Premier League.

‘We are where we are. We have what we have. Hopefully, we will improve and be much better in the second part of the league and compete against teams we can compete against.”

Benitez is hoping for a happier New Year, with three of the next four games against teams around them in the table, starting today.

“Obviously, we have the problem of the bad run,” said manager Benitez.

“Can you get more confidence with a bad run? No.

“So how can we keep confidence high? It’s just