That’s according to Dean Saunders, who thinks a lack of big-name arrivals will have frustrated the Spaniard.

Benitez got the Magpies back in the Premier League at the first time of asking last term by winning the Championship.

The ex-Liverpool and Chelsea boss wants to add quality to his squad to ensure another relegation battle isn’t in store.

But apart from the £12m capture of Jacob Murphy from Norwich and converting Christian Atsu’s loan move from Chelsea into a permanent deal, the Toon haven’t made any eye-catching captures.

Florian Lejeune, Stefan O'Connor, Josef Yarney, Mikel Merino and Javier Manquillo have all joined but are not proven in the Premier League.

And Saunders thinks Benitez won’t be happy.

He told talkSPORT: "The conversation when they appointed him would have been 'come and get us back up, we'll give you a good contract. When you do get us back up we'll let you spend this amournt of money.'

"The problem is, that spending isn't happening at the moment.

"Benitez, the way he is, doesnt mess around. There's a car crash coming at Newcastle."

Benitez discussed his side’s prospects earlier this week.

“What we want is a group of players that have to compete for their position and everybody has to feel that they can play and do well,” he said. “That is the key.

“If they compete, we will be stronger.

“If they think ‘there’s 11 starters and that’s it’, then it will be worse for us.

“We need players now with the idea that they can play.”