Football
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Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez asks for calm amid poor start

Rafael Benitez has urged Newcastle fans to trust him as he attempts to steer the club out of its latest foray into stormy seas.

The Magpies entered the final week of the summer transfer window with the manager still hoping his squad can be strengthened significantly for the task of retaining their Premier League status against the backdrop of three successive defeats at the start of the campaign.

But, ahead of West Ham's visit to St James' Park on Saturday, Benitez, who has been linked with the London club amid speculation that current boss Slaven Bilic could lose his job, has called for calm.

He said: "Especially now in football, everything goes so quickly and everyone expects success in the first games. Everyone is spending a lot of money and are expecting to win games, so it's normal.

"You can feel people are nervous and excited, but at the same time you have to believe in your work and in your people and how they will improve.''

The game represents a clash between the clubs currently sitting in 17th and 20th place in the division, with Newcastle better off only on goal difference.

As a result, victory ahead of the international break would provide a huge boost for whoever can claim it.

Benitez said: "It's as important for us as for them. It's a long a season and we have to start winning games, but I'm confident we'll improve having seen the way we're working in training. It will make it easier for us to get three points.''

The Spaniard made 10 changes for the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest and saw his understudies bow out of the competition in a 3-2 extra-time defeat on Tyneside.

Several of the men who took the field against Forest have been told they are surplus to requirement and may yet join striker Emmanuel Riviere in leaving after he sealed a permanent switch to Metz.

Siem de Jong is also close to a return to former club Ajax, with Benitez hoping that will allow him leeway to bring in his targets.

He said: "Sometimes you can do business, sometimes you can't, but we're looking for solutions. I expect to be quite busy we're working to find solution to some players.''

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