Rafael Benítez and his Newcastle United players left their night out with Mike Ashley at an Italian restaurant in Northumberland with the clear impression that the club’s owner intends to reinforce an understrength squad in January.

On Wednesday Ashley, Benítez, senior staff and first-team players spent three hours and 20 minutes eating and chatting together in what has been described as a “break-the-ice” charm offensive. The players are believed to have spoken warmly of the controversial owner afterwards.

It was only the fourth time Newcastle’s manager has met Ashley but the pair are understood to have had an amicable conversation which led to optimism regarding January signings.

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With Benítez unhappy about a transfer market policy which left Newcastle with a profit of more than £20m on summer dealings – not to mention Ashley’s failure to revamp the training ground and academy – the Spaniard has, so far, declined to extend a contract which runs out in June. Earlier in the week the players held a private, clear-the-air meeting at the training ground with discussions led by Martin Dubravka, the goalkeeper, and Jamaal Lascelles, the captain, amid a poor start to the season.

Wednesday night was apparently rather more relaxed and raised questions as to whether Ashley might have decided to run Newcastle in a very different way.

Only time will tell – Benítez has seen promises broken before – but the impression given was that a frequently stay-away owner will be in regular attendance at games and training sessions and is making active plans for the January transfer market.

If Benítez is likely to take some considerable convincing so, too, will the group of Newcastle fans who gathered outside the restaurant in Ponteland to protest against Ashley’s stewardship of the club.

The Sports Direct and House of Fraser owner is said to strongly reject suggestions that he made a two-fingered gesture to dissenting fans as, shielded by heavy security, he departed. Ashley maintains he was moving a hand towards his neck.

Although Ashley is believed to have explained that a lack of credible buyers dictates he has never come close to selling Newcastle, the club remains very much on the market. In the meantime the owner is understood to be anxious to retain his manager and has also offered Benítez’s squad incentives to avoid relegation, possibly even including an end-of-season group holiday.

Given the urgent need to start accumulating points, the players are thought to have appreciated the chance to air individual concerns with both owner and manager in a relaxed, convivial setting.

On Saturday Newcastle visit a Manchester United side managed by Benitez’s old foe José Mourinho.