Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez is delighted with the form of Ayoze Perez.

Benitez has worked on improving his game constantly in the last three years, and he will try to add to his 46 club goals away to relegation-threatened Brighton in Saturday's evening kickoff.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager admitted: “I am the first one to criticise Ayoze. Why? Because he has to be more consistent and he has the potential. You cannot criticise a player who cannot give you more. But Ayoze is one that we know can do well. He can do better and he has room for improvement.

“Will he go to Spain? Holidays, yes!

“I am telling him to change this or that, and he knows. Maybe sometimes he is not happy but you remember the teacher who pushes you harder, not the one who was always nice.

"You have to push them and find the balance. He is OK, because he is getting better and better."