Rafa Benitez holds talks with Newcastle's Adam Armstrong

Rafa Benitez has held talks with Newcastle United's Adam Armstrong amid calls for him to be recalled.
Adam ArmstrongAdam Armstrong
Adam Armstrong

Armstrong has scored 19 League One goals for loan club Coventry City so far this season.

And there have been calls for Armstrong to be recalled given Newcastle's problems in front of goal.

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The Gazette reported on Monday that no decision had been taken to recall Armstrong, though that could quickly change should new manager Benitez feel the 19-year-old is needed at St James's Park.

For his part, Coventry manager Tony Mowbray is hopeful Armstrong will stay at the Ricoh Arena.

"Arma was back there on Sunday, and went and spoke to Rafa," Mowbray told the Coventry Telegraph.

“He was given two days off after the match on Saturday and went home with his family, and I think he went in off his own bat. I don’t think he was called in. Bottom line is he’s a Newcastle player.

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“I haven’t spoken to anyone at the club and if anyone is going to it will be (Coventry technical dirtector) Mark Venus speaking to their MD, Lee Charnley.

“But he has been up there, been in the building, seen the manager and is back here in training, so it doesn’t appear as if anything is happening.

“At this moment, as we sit here now, there doesn’t seem to be any recall.

“I think Rafa realises he’s got 10 games and that’s his senior squad. I watched them against Leicester on Monday night on the telly, and I thought they were unfortunate not to get anything.

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“I am not sitting here overly concerned, because I don’t think he’s going to be recalled. And if he does then we’ll have to get on with it.

“If he gets called back this week we would look at the loan situation, I’m not sure there’s another star player out there, but we would just want to bring in another option.”