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Ayoze Perez believes he is “growing” as a player due to the personal connection he has established with Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez.

The 23-year-old forward was born and raised in Tenerife before playing for his hometown, while compatriot Benitez also led the Canary Island club to promotion during a successful managerial stint there 15 years ago.

Since arriving on Tyneside in March, Benitez has worked individually, as well as collectively, with every member of the United squad in order to help them improve.

But special attention has been paid to Perez’s development.

While the forward is technically gifted and blessed with excellent vision, his off-the-ball work, consistency and physicality are areas which he must improve.

Gradually, under Benitez’s tutelage, Perez insists he is making progress.

“He [Benitez] always makes sure that everything is right and everyone is trying to learn from him,” Perez explained.

“Everyone is improving as players individually and also as a team.

“It’s important for me to have that connection [Tenerife] with him and to understand everything clearly he tells me because we speak the same language

“It’s important because I know what he wants from me and we are trying to do it properly.”

“Individually and also as a team we are getting better under him.

“The team is growing, is doing better every game.

“Individually as well I feel like I am growing as a player and that’s why I am happy.”

It is not just on the field that Benitez is making a difference, however.

The positivity and optimism around the dressing room, the club and even the city right now is the polar opposite of the doom and gloom which engulfed Tyneside last season.

(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Partly that is due to results - United have won their last eight games in succession and are top of the Championship - but also it is down to the new direction the club has taken since Benitez was handed full control.

“It feels different,” Perez said of the mood around Newcastle.

“The truth is we are playing much better, we are playing good football and it’s very different to least season.

“We feel comfortable now, we are confident and you can feel it outside on the pitch.

“Everyone is happy because we are still top of the table.

“We are performing really well on the pitch and we have to keep going.

“We are up at the top, but still we are not there yet.”

During Newcastle’s 2-1 victory over Cardiff City last weekend, Perez played just behind Aleksandar Mitrovic - only the second time the duo have started a league game together this season.

And Perez believes the duo enjoy a positive understanding out on the pitch.

“We both feel really, really good with each other,” Perez said of Mitrovic.

“We make a good couple and we always try to find each other.

“Against Cardiff we linked up well for the first goal and we are learning from each other and making each other better.

“We are winning games together too, which is good.”