DeAndre Yedlin has his say on Rafa Benitez's Newcastle future as contract talks start

Benitez's contract runs out at the end of next season and owner Mike Ashley wants him to commit his longer-term future to the club.

The club's hierarchy has had preliminary discussions with Benitez's representatives over a new deal.

"My representatives have talked with (managing director) Lee Charnley, and that’s it," said Newcastle's manager. "I won’t say anything else about that, because I want to concentrate on football."

Benitez guided United to the Championship title last season, and the club secured its Premier League status last month with five games left to play.

Yedlin, signed by Benitez from Tottenham Hotspur two years ago, is desperate for Benitez – who wants to know if the club's ambitions match his own – to stay at Newcastle for a "long time".

Benitez will sit down with Ashley at the end of the season to see if they can reach an agreement over his and the club's future.

"Those discussions between the manager and the club are going to be massive," said defender Yedlin, who is preparing for Saturday's game against Watford at Vicarage Road.

"He's a great manager. He's loved by the city and loved by the club. He's a manager I think we need to keep.

"He has obviously done great things with this team. Obviously, I'm a little bit biased, because he has put so much faith in me. He has shown his trust in me, he has given me a lot, taught me a lot and given me a lot of experience.

"It has helped me a lot. He's a manager this city and club need to keep, and not only that, they should try to keep him around for a long time."

Newcastle are 10th in the table with three games left to play.