Feddy’s ready to extend his Toon stay – and Rafa’s delight for club
lot of games.
“We’re on a good run, and we need to carry on in this way and try and take as many points as we can.”
Bruce’s appointment as Rafa Benitez’s successor in the summer was met with a lukewarm reception on Tyneside – and he admitted he needed to win over fans when he took the job.
Fernandez believes that Bruce deserves credit for the job he is doing at his boyhood club.
“The gaffer is doing a great job,” said Fernandez.
“We’re solid. That’s what he wants. We create chances, we fight, we stay in games against difficult teams.
“He’s really happy about what we have done in the last three months, but we want more.
“For us, we just need to enjoy the moment – and try to finish higher.”
Benitez, meanwhile, has revealed his thoughts on Bruce's start to life at St James’s Park.
And the former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Napoli manager has addressed a potential Premier League return amid links to Arsenal, Everton and West Ham United.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Spaniard admitted he is delighted to see his former charges producing the goods.
“I’m really pleased Newcastle are doing well, and I’m really pleased for Steve Bruce - he’s doing a great job,” said Benitez, now boss of Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Yifang.
“That’s what I expected. We wanted to try and get into the top 10 but that wasn’t the idea and it’s fine. Hopefully they’ll continue to do well.”
On the subject of returning to England, Benitez has made no secret of his desire to be a Premier League manager again.
And again, when pressed by former player Jamie Carragher on the subject, Benitez insists the door remains open – but, as ever, he is no rush to break a contract.
He said: “Obviously, in the future I would like to come back to the Premier League because I like the league.
“But at the moment, I can be very clear – no chance I will come back now because I am really happy, really pleased, that they trust me.
“We have a lot of staff working in a big, big project.
“People will say the league is different. Yes, it is different, another level, but Wanda, that is behind the team, is a massive company and they want to change everything.
“We are in charge of the kids until the first team. We want to leave a legacy and it is a challenge for me.
“I am learning a lot, it is a great experience and quite happy at the moment.”
Asked the question if Arsenal or Everton approaches could change his mind, Benitez said: “At the moment it is a no.”