Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie believes it is pivotal to keep Rafa Benitez at the club.

The manager does not have a contract beyond this season, which means that he is seen as likely to leave.

But Ritchie has hailed the impact Benitez made on the team.

And he hopes the club can find a way to keep him in charge for the long term.

"He's very good," the Scot told talkSPORT.

"It's massive that he does stay now, especially at the moment with the unrest among the fans.

"There's no better man for the club. He's seen everything.

"He's been everywhere in football. He's seen the highs and lows and he doesn't ride with them.

"He's always in the same mood. That spreads throughout the whole team and the whole club.

"We started really poorly this season and not once did the manager panic."