Alan Shearer Responds to Question on How Long Rafa Benitez Will Stay at Newcastle

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer says the club must keep manager Rafael Benitez for 'a while' if they are to continue their good recent progress, according to HITC Sport.

Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Benitez has done a fine job since taking over at St James' Park in 2016, guiding them back to the Premier League at the first attempt and making an impressive start to the season in which the club comfortably sit mid-table.

Former Toon skipper Shearer was being interviewed by Coral via Facebook live, and was asked how long Benitez, who is contracted on Tyneside until 2019, would stay on as manager for. 

Shearer responded by saying: "For a while I hope. I'm sure he's hoping there is some activity in regards to a takeover, because he himself said he was frustrated because he wasn't given what he was promised."

He went on to add: "Newcastle have to keep hold of Rafa. With his experience and know how, he understands what team he has. He hasn't got a team he can towards the top six. It was always going to be a long hard season."

Benitez's Newcastle travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday where they will look to cause an upset an end a run of two straight defeats without a goal.