RAFAEL BENITEZ is considering his options in a bid to find something extra in his attempts to prevent Newcastle United from dropping into the Championship next month.

The Magpies head coach was the angriest he has been in the dressing room since succeeding Steve McClaren when he watched the team fall behind cheaply at Southampton on Saturday.

The 3-1 defeat also led to a lot of home truths being told behind the scenes at St Mary’s, where Dutch right-back Daryl Janmaat is known to have punched a wall in frustration after he hobbled off in the 40th minute; that that has left him with two broken fingers.

He is struggling with the groin problem sustained on the south coast, so his place against Swansea City on Saturday is already in doubt and that has prompted Benitez to weigh up alternatives for the right-back slot. Youngster Kevin Mbabu is one of those in the frame.

The Northern Echo: Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez during the Barclays Premier League match at St Mary's, Southampton. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday April 9, 2016. See PA story SOCCER Southampton. Photo credit should read: Clive Gee/PA Wire. EDITOR
Focus: Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has plenty work to do

Benitez knows he cannot afford to go into the game with the same players, having seen his team concede six cheap goals in Newcastle’s last two outings against the Saints and Norwich City.

Those have increased the chances of relegation, with Newcastle staring at a six point gap to safety and a significantly inferior goal difference to both Sunderland and Norwich above them.

Frustrations are known to have boiled over in the dressing room at Southampton on Saturday, with players voicing concerns and problems in the hope of finding a performance from somewhere.

And young defender Jamaal Lascelles, who came on at half-time for Steven Taylor after an error-strewn first half, has let it be known exactly what he thinks even though he has only made five starts since moving from Nottingham Forest.

Lascelles, a prominent speaker during the dressing room inquest, said: “We need bigger characters on the pitch, players who care and who are going to get after each other.

“We have lacked it this season and no matter how good you are, if you don’t have that fight and hunger and desire, it doesn’t matter.

“We had Steve McClaren who is a great manager and now we’ve got Rafa Benitez, who is a great manager, so it’s clearly not that. It’s the players and we have to take full responsibility.

“It’s ourselves who need to change it and not the manager. We need to play with more heart. We’ve got flair players, tricky players, players with loads of talent, but we need more heart, we need more desire.”

Lascelles will hope to start against Swansea this weekend, although Benitez could turn to Fabricio Coloccini for experience if there are slight concerns over his fitness. He has not played since February.

Midfielder Jack Colback will be available after suspension so will improve the options in midfield or at full-back, while young full-back Paul Dummett could be thrust into the starting line-up after returning to the bench at Southampton.

With time running out for Benitez to lead a revival, a lot has been made about the four remaining home games Newcastle have in their six-match run-in.

As well as the visit of Swansea, Newcastle face Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Tottenham at home. They must also travel to Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has suggested that playing at St James’ Park might actually be a hindrance rather than a help in Benitez’s attempts to keep them up.

Souness said: “You would say that is an advantage normally, but the way the mood is on Tyneside right now that will backfire on them. Those players are playing under enormous pressure.”