Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has defended Jamaal Lascelles after the captain praised club owner Mike Ashley.

Benitez backed Lascelles on Friday, 24 hours after his skipper caused a storm as he signed a huge new contract by saying unpopular owner Ashley seemed a “nice guy," and that fan protests were having an adverse effect on the players.

Asked if some fans might boo Lascelles, he said ahead of their clash with Watford: “It's common sense. What do we have? Eleven players on the pitch and a squad on the bench. You have to support your family. This is our family. We have to support everyone, from the first minute to the last. After, you can say, 'I don't agree, I'm not happy with that.'

“We are talking about the captain of the team — someone who cares. We cannot change our support for this player because he said this, or said that. Then we have to be sure that, next time, he chooses the words to understand the feelings of everyone.

“He is still young. He's not making every decision right as captain, but a lot of things he is good with, he is positive. He's like me as a manager. The difference is I'm older and have more experience.

“We need players performing on the pitch. Jamaal is giving everything on the pitch. He has signed a contract extension because he cares. We have to support him as much as we can.

“You can have the worst opinionated player in the world but, if he's scoring a goal every game, the fans will love him!"