Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Former Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan is not convinced by Rafa Benitez’s spending complaints.

The Spaniard has repeatedly referred to the lack of backing he received from Mike Ashley in the summer, citing the spending of the likes of Brighton, Huddersfield and Burnley to highlight Newcastle’s poor summer business.

Benitez has often said that Newcastle are where they are in the Premier League table because they didn’t spend the money required for a top 10 finish.

But Kevin Nolan feels like he has played on the fan discontent that surrounded Newcastle’s summer transfer business so that they don’t get on his back for a poor run of results.

The Notts County boss also spoke about Benitez’s spend last season, and feels the spend across last season and this season is a better barometer to measure how good Newcastle’s squad is.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

“Rafa played on it a lot in the early months of the season,” Nolan told Sky Sports News.

“It seemed it was more about Rafa Benitez than the team at the time.

“When they got over that they got a few results and got a bit of a mentality and a winning run going. Now it’s turned because they have lost four on the spin.

He continued: “And I think he always tries to bring out a few bits to remind people ‘We’re not supposed to be here’. Listen, he’s spent a lot of money on that squad last year and this year.

“He’s probably spent a lot more money than his rivals have so for me, with the way they are up there - with the expectancy of the crowd and the town and what goes up there with it - he might be trying to kid them a bit and make sure they don’t get on his back too early.”