Thursday 5 May 2016 17:15, UK
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez refused to be drawn on whether the club would still be battling for their Premier League survival if he had taken over sooner.
The Magpies were 19th in the table when Steve McClaren was sacked on March 11 but Saturday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace moved them out of the relegation zone thanks to a stunning free-kick from Andros Townsend.
They are now one point ahead of rivals Sunderland having played a game more, with eight points coming from their last four matches.
That led to Benitez being asked whether they would be even higher up the table if he had come to St James' Park earlier in the season.
But the Spaniard offered a diplomatic response to the question, insisting injuries to key players had played their part in the club's poor form prior to his arrival.
"I think it's not fair if I say something about that. Always time is important for any manager," he said.
"We are where we are and we enjoy this challenge right now and we will try to enjoy it until the end of the season.
"When we came we had a lot of injuries, we lost [Rob] Elliot and Massadio Haidaria who could have been an option.
"We were playing with [Vurnon] Anita at left-back at the beginning, now we have him at right-back.
"There were too many problems but the reaction of the players and the way they work every day in training is making a difference.
"I can give a message but they have to go out on the pitch and perform."
