We Can Still Improve, Says Rafa

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Rafa Benitez believes his Newcastle United side can "still improve" - even after their 6-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in midweek.

The Magpies welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to St. James' Park on Saturday for a Sky Bet Championship clash (3pm kick-off), looking to secure their seventh win in a row in all competitions.

United demolished QPR at Loftus Road on Tuesday night, thanks to a Jonjo Shelvey brace and further strikes from Ayoze Perez, Ciaran Clark, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Grant Hanley.

But Benitez says his side will not let up in their bid to get even better, as they look to mount an assault on the upper reaches of the table.

"I said after the game in the press conference that I think that the team can still improve and can play better. I won't say score more goals, but we can play better," he said.

"I think it was a great game, a fantastic game, with a lot of positives, but still we can improve, and when I say that, I could see the reaction.

"People take that to mean score more goals, but it means to control the game in another way and keep playing well."

United's opponents this weekend suffered a 4-0 defeat last time out at the hands of Barnsley, for whom young Magpies forward and Tykes loanee Adam Armstrong started in that game at Molineux.

But Benitez has warned his charges not to underestimate Walter Zenga's men, who went five games unbeaten at the start of the campaign.

"I was telling them, I was very clear, that every game is different. This is the Championship, and it's a tough, tough competition and we have to be sure that we're ready for the next game," he said.

"We have already enjoyed these couple of days, we've been training, preparing for the game, and I told them that we have to respect the opponents because they are a good team.

"They were doing well. They lost the other day, but after 72 minutes they were still in the game. I have seen the game and they had some chances, so I think it will be totally different from what people are expecting."

Benitez handed a debut to Christian Atsu in the capital on Tuesday, with fellow new arrivals Daryl Murphy and Achraf Lazaar yet to make their bows for the club.

And Benitez said that he would take into account Tuesday night's cup game against the same opposition when he selects his side for this weekend.

"Because the team is winning, because the team are doing well, it's not easy to give the other players a chance, but we will try," he said.

"We have the cup on Tuesday and we know that we have to change players but at the same time give opportunities to everyone to be involved. If they train well, if they work very hard, I think that they deserve to be there."