Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez says Ben Dawson deserves his promotion.

United's current Under-23 chief Dawson is set to take a step up to a more technical-based role which could see him be the head of coaching at youth level.

Benitez revealed he has been discussing changes with Dawson since 2017.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I have been talking with Ben Dawson in the past and he told me the idea for this year.

"It is not that I am deciding.

"I am just informing.

"To be fair we have been talking about it with them for a couple of years now."