Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff has urged fans to move on from former manager Rafa Benitez.

Benitez's departure sparked fan protests over the running of the club by owner Mike Ashley with the side currently winless under new manager Steve Bruce.

"I was speaking to Rafa (Benitez) throughout the summer, and ultimately I think everyone wanted him to stay," Longstaff told Sky Sports. "But that's football. Things change, and ultimately he didn't want to stay.

"It's in the past now and I think everybody, as harsh as it sounds, has to sort of forget about him, as tough as that can be.

"We've spent a lot of the start of the season talking about Rafa, and he's not here. Ultimately he doesn't have an impact on the team or football club at this time.

"If the team start picking up results, everything will look more positive and people will forget about the previous manager, as long as we're successful on the pitch."