Rob Elliot has told his Newcastle United teammates to win their relegation battle and maximise the chances of keeping manager Rafael Benitez beyond the summer.

The veteran Spaniard replaced the axed Steve McClaren on Tyneside last Friday, signing an initial three-year deal with the Magpies.

However, it remains to be seen if Benitez will still manage the club should he fail to keep them in the Premier League, but Elliot is desperate to retain his services beyond this season.

"We just need to make sure that, one, we stay in the division, and two, that he's our manager for the next few years to build and take us to where we want to be," the goalkeeper told the Northern Echo.

"It's been great to have him on board. We haven't had too much time to work with him yet because he's just arrived, but his experience speaks for itself. It's been exciting and motivating for the players to have someone like the gaffer to come in."

United sit 19th in the table, one point behind 17th-placed Sunderland ahead of Sunday's huge Tyne-Wear derby - Benitez's first game at St James' Park.

The former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss marked his coronation with a defeat in Monday's 1-0 reverse at league leaders Leicester City.