Paul Dummett hopes Newcastle keep Rafa Benitez as manager for long-term after impressive season
Sunday 6 May 2018 14:07, UK
Paul Dummett told Goals on Sunday he hopes Newcastle can keep boss Rafa Benitez "for many years" after keeping Newcastle in the Premier League.
The Geordie defender has been with the club since a youngster, making his debut in 2012 and staying at St James' Park when the club were relegated in 2016 under Benitez - and subsequently promoted a year later.
Despite their form failing them in recent weeks, the Spaniard remains hugely popular on Tyneside, and could still lead the club to its highest position since 2012 despite limited investment last summer.
"When we were in the Championship some people said we had a Premier League team and when we got in the Premier League they said we had a Championship team," Dummett said.
"He's done well with us. He's steadied the ship with our team. We don't ship loads of goals every game like we've maybe done in the past.
"He's been great with me and great with the other lads so hopefully we can keep him for many years to come and keep progressing."
Fellow guest Dwight Gayle, who has scored five times for the Magpies in the Premier League this season, said some words of wisdom from the manager had helped the club turn its season around after a slow start.
"The main thing was to stay up really and keep working and progressing," he told Goals on Sunday. "Obviously we didn't start as well as we would have liked at the beginning of the season but the gaffer reminded us that it was a work in progress and it was going to get better as the season went on. As you can see, that's happened."
