Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez says he shouted instructions from his sofa as he recovered from a hernia operation.

Benitez returns to the bench for the game against Stoke on Saturday after missing Sunday's 1-0 win at Swansea.

The Spaniard said: "We won so everything is fine and I'm here talking, so it is good. I was trying to come back but I was not feeling well. I was in contact with my staff and they told me everything is in place.

"I was on the sofa taking notes and shouting. I was confident because the staff were telling me everything was going according to plan."