Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has insisted that under-fire attacker Ayoze Perez is "doing a great job" for the team.

Perez has started all nine of Newcastle's Premier League matches this season, but the 24-year-old has managed just one goal and one assist.

The Spaniard has been the subject of criticism from a number of Newcastle supporters this season, but Benitez has claimed that Perez is the vital to the team's overall make-up.

"I can read the comments and some people say this or that," The Chronicle quotes Benitez as saying. "He's doing well. He's a clever player. He has good movement. He didn't play well the other day. He knows. We know.

"He had two or three situations where he could do better, and he was wrong. Still, he's doing a great job, and the understanding between him and Joselu and the midfielders and the rest of the team is quite good.

"When I talk about a clever player, it doesn't mean he has to control and put the ball in the top corner. No, he has good movement. He knows when he has to go, press and regain or when he has to attack and do runs behind the defenders. He stays between the lines. He's giving us something that maybe we needed."

Newcastle will travel to Burnley in Monday night's Premier League clash.