Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey has spoken up to defend the club's manager Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard came in for some criticism after his side's aggressively negative style against Chelsea at home in the Premier League in a 2-1 defeat.

Howey believes that Benitez is struggling to take the club forward because of a lack of ambition in the boardroom level.

"If he's finishing 10th, how good could he be with money behind him? At the moment, he is working with his hands [tied] behind his back," Howey said in a televised appearance on Sky Sports.

"The fans are getting behind the manager, he is Newcastle's biggest asset, as far as I'm concerned. If they lose him, they are really struggling.

"Would Rafa resign? No. I'd be very surprised. I think he has given his word, he gets the fans, gets the city, and the fans love him for that.

"The fans just feel as though it would be nice to have some hope to point the club in the right direction. They feel they have the manager in Benitez, but not the man above him, and he's the most important one.

"I don't think the owner would be that disappointed if the club went down."