Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez was pleased with this week's pizza get-together with club owner Mike Ashley.

He seemed cautiously encouraged by events of the pizza and pasta summit at Rialto's in Ponteland, Northumberland.

Asked if 'some good could come from the evening', Benitez said: "Yes, I think so. It was a pleasant dinner. I think that was his idea to try to support the team, to support the manager. I think it's positive.

"He knows my ideas and I know his ideas. If you talk about everything and you see the games, it would be easier for everyone to understand.

"Still, I have a lot of confidence and I'm very positive about this team. But, if we can do something in January, it will be better. We have to go to January knowing what we have to do."