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Rafa Benitez has pleaded with critics of Ayoze Perez to stick with the Newcastle United centre-forward.

Perez missed a real sitter at West Ham in United's 2-0 loss at the London Stadium, but bounced back in excellent style against Everton to provide two goals and an assist.

The striker has celebrated some of his goals by putting his fingers in his ears to demonstrate he is capable of blocking out negativity.

The goals took his Toon career tally to 42 and the Spaniard is now within swinging distance of the club's all-time top scorer chart in the Premier League.

Benitez said: " Ayo is a player of quality.

"I can understand sometimes the fans when he is giving the ball away, but he is capable of doing these things.

"He can miss an easy pass, but after he can score a great goal.

"He's someone that you need to manage and he is doing well.

"Last year, he was the top scorer in the team; this year, he is doing well.

"His understanding with Almiron and Rondon is quite good so in the end, the understanding that we have with the three strikers at the moment, because they are all quite high, they are doing well and they are enjoying themselves."