RAFAEL BENITEZ has challenged Javier Manquillo to “prove a point” following his transfer to Newcastle United.

Manquillo has signed a three-year deal to complete a move from Atletico Madrid that is understood to have been worth around £4m.

The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Sunderland, and his time at the Stadium of Light was widely regarded as something of a failure given he only managed 11 Premier League starts for a side that was relegated at the foot of the table.

Benitez is convinced he is better than those statistics suggest, and points to his previous status as a Spain Under-21 international to highlight his untapped potential.

A defender who is comfortable in either full-back role, Manquillo spent a season on loan at Liverpool after breaking through at Atletico Madrid, and Benitez is convinced he will be a valuable defensive acquisition.

“Like Jacob Murphy, Manquillo is another young player,” said the Newcastle boss. “He can play both sides of the defence, and he has a lot of motivation because he knows he has a point to prove.

“He can still improve, but he has played for Spain at Under-21 level, and that is because he is a good player, so hopefully he will show that form here.”

Manquillo has already trained with his new team-mates at Newcastle’s training base in Ireland, and could even be involved in this afternoon’s friendly at Preston.

“I’m very happy to be here,” said the Spaniard. “From the first moment that Rafa Benitez called me, I just knew that I had to come here, to such a big club.

“I’m very happy with the challenge ahead. I’ve come here to work hard and give everything on and off the pitch. Hopefully, then everything will go in the right direction.

“When I went from Real Madrid to Atletico, I was very young, so making that change was different. More recently I played for Sunderland, but now I’ve got the opportunity to join this big club, the biggest in the North-East.”

While Manquillo is looking forward to representing Newcastle next season, Aleksandar Mitrovic admits he does not know where he will be playing his football next term.

Mitrovic’s future has been the subject of sustained speculation all summer, with Rafael Benitez seemingly harbouring doubts about his ability to succeed in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old started just 11 Championship games last season, and while Daryl Murphy’s departure in a £2m move to Nottingham Forest has reduced Benitez’s attacking options, the Magpies manager is determined to make further alterations this summer.

Benitez is hoping to sign two new attackers before the transfer window closes, and that could result in Mitrovic moving on if Newcastle were to receive an acceptable offer for his services.

Magpies officials are understood to have quoted Lyon a price tag of £16m when the French club made contact earlier this week, and Mitrovic has also been the subject of interest from Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Besiktas in the last couple of days.

Mitrovic has no great desire to leave Tyneside, and insists he will continue to give his all in a black-and-white shirt. However, he also admits he cannot be certain about his future beyond the end of next month.

“I am happy here,” said Mitrovic, who is expected to be part of the Newcastle squad that travels to Preston for this afternoon’s friendly. “We will see what has happened by the end of the transfer window, but at the moment I am here and I will do everything to work hard, like I always do.

“I don’t know what is going to happen at the end. While I am here, I will give everything like I always have. Sometimes that’s enough, sometimes it is not.”

Mitrovic was frustrated at his lack of involvement last season, and with Dwight Gayle set to start the new campaign as Newcastle’s number one striker, he could easily find himself in a similar situation next term.

That could have serious repercussions, both in terms of his long-term career prospects and his shorter-term hopes of playing for Serbia in next year’s World Cup finals in Russia.

“It is a big season for me,” said Mitrovic. “We have not qualified for the World Cup yet, and have four more games.  It is going to be tough, and I will have to prepare myself for the season.”

Meanwhile, highly-rated Newcastle youngster Sean Longstaff is set to join League One side Blackpool on loan, having spent a large chunk of last season with Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock.