Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez says he needs greater support in the transfer market.

Benitez is being mentioned in the Manager of the Year discussion but he has warned owner Mike Ashley he will not be able to continue to produce 'miracles' season after season.

“I think this season, for these players, the staff, the club, the fans, it has been a fantastic achievement. Brighton, Huddersfield, they have also done a fantastic job, but it's different because everyone was expecting more of Newcastle United because of the fans, the stadium etcetera," Benitez said.

“But it was not the case, we were spending less than them. They were expecting us to beat Manchester City and Liverpool, because we have done in the past. No-one expected that of Brighton. It was more difficult for us.

“What I don't want next year, if we finish in the top 10, is for people to say, 'Okay, fine, now you must finish in the top six'. To do that you must have a real project with a realistic business plan and with an idea of the target and the tools to achieve that target."

He continued: “I cannot do miracles every year so then you have to have the tools to be sure that you can do your job. I did it at Napoli, Inter or any team that we were around. (At) Valencia, when we had the tools and we had the support, we could win. That's it."