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

Rafa Benitez has admitted Newcastle's new system of playing with wing-backs has been 'difficult' for loan star Kenedy.

Throughout Benitez's time in charge of Newcastle he has largely operated with a 4-2-3-1 system, with Kenedy playing on the left-hand side of midfield.

But in recent weeks, Newcastle have operated with five men at the back, playing with two wing-backs.

In the win over Burnley, Kenedy was used as more of an attacking midfield player but against Huddersfield, the Brazilian was utilised as a left-wing-back.

It is a position he played at Chelsea under Antonio Conte, although it seemed to stifle his attacking talents.

The general consensus was that Conte didn't trust Kenedy defensively but did not want to move away from the system that had delivered the Blues the Premier League title in the 2016/17 campaign.

But given Christian Atsu's impressive performance in attacking midfield against Wolves last weekend, he retained his place in the win over Huddersfield and Kenedy was shipped back in to the left-wing-back role.

Many felt the Brazilian struggled on Saturday and Benitez has offered an explanation as to why Saturday's win at the John Smith's Stadium was so tough 'tactically' for the 22-year-old.

"It was not easy for him because tactically it was a strange game," Benitez said.

"Not too many people have seen that, but Huddersfield started with five and, as soon as they saw we were playing with five at the back, they changed to four.

"Then it means that they have a winger close to him, and he was wing-back for us. So he has a winger close to him, and a full-back going all the time, because normally Kenedy would go forward.

"But he had to deal with the distance and maybe two players coming at him. Atsu was helping a lot but, still, tactically for a player who is normally an offensive player to adjust his position in defence, it was not easy.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"That for me is the main thing, that it was not easy for him to find the right distance between the full-back and the winger, and defend them properly."

Kenedy was a revelation last season after joining from Chelsea on loan and was an integral part of the Newcastle side that hauled themselves away from relegation trouble to finish in the top half of the Premier League table.

Benitez was desperate to re-sign Kenedy in the summer and his loan arrival was met with a positive reaction by the Toon Army.

Nonetheless, he has largely flattered to deceive in comparison to last season but Benitez insists he isn't suffering from a crisis of confidence.

"No, I think he knows that he is not playing at the level he can play," Benitez replied when asked if Kenedy is low on confidence.

"But don't forget that he is an offensive player who we are playing as a wing-back in a defensive formation, when sometimes he was defending two against one.

"So we have to think that he has to adjust, he has to learn, and these kind of games will be a good experience for him."