Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has urged owner Mike Ashley to keep hold of manager Rafa Benitez.

Shearer said he was impressed with the job that Benitez has done once again under a limited budget, insisting the club must renew his contract.

"I was very happy watching that performance today but they need to sort his future out – they need to keep Rafa at all costs," Shearer said on Match of the Day after Newcastle's win over Fulham.

“Wonderful strike from Shelvey gets them off to a great start and then the best three players of the season for Newcastle – Perez, Schar and Salomon Rondon – were all involved in scoring the goals. It was a very good performance.

"It's 24 goals between Rondon and Perez now and Perez has had an excellent season.

“Rondon got the fan's player of the season and rightly so. Whether they get him – whether they want to pay that money – is a different matter.

“If it was me I'd do that because he's been excellent.

“First and foremost though they need to sort out Rafa's future. They need to keep him."