Rafa Benitez can't believe the Newcastle United side he picked for the 1-1 draw with Swansea on Saturday was filled with players from last season's Championship winning campaign.

The Magpies are struggling to bring in new players despite the pleas of their manager.

Asked about naming a starting XI full of Championship veterans, Benitez replied: "Carvalhal told me that before the game…

"It tells everybody where we are [as a team]. I have been saying it all season. Some people say: 'Ah, but you have to do this, you have to do that.' But that is the reality.

"We are in the Premier League and we have a lot of players giving everything but still sometimes it is not enough. That is the amazing thing and the positive thing, that they are working so hard.

"It's not easy. When you can see all the games together, sometimes you know that there are things you can improve and things you cannot.

"But the only thing and the main thing and the positive thing is the attitude of the players, even in training sessions, trying to improve. That's quite good.

"Even when they come from the bench the majority of them give everything. That's what you're expecting from your squad."

Pressed as to whether he expected to be fielding such a team in January when Newcastle were promoted last April, Benitez responded: "No."