RAFAEL BENITEZ has not had any second thoughts about taking over the challenge at Newcastle United and wants his players to have no regrets about their performances in the battle to stay in the Premier League.

Today’s round of fixtures appears to be a pivotal day in the fight for survival and Benitez hopes for a birthday present of three points when Newcastle face Swansea City at St James’ Park at 3pm.

By that time the Magpies will know the result of Sunderland’s trip to Norwich City, where a home win will see the gap to Benitez’s side extend to nine points before a ball has been kicked on Tyneside.

And the 56-year-old knows how important it is for Newcastle to record a first win under his watch with only six games remaining, having only collected a point from the 12 points available since succeeding Steve McClaren.

Benitez said: “When you leave the pitch, you have to be sure you have done everything. So the players need to have no regrets about anything like ‘maybe I could do this, or go on another run.’ That is crucial.

“When you are under pressure, you are not playing, sometimes – it depends on each player – you are not playing at the level you can play. The only thing you can guarantee is effort and passion and then you have to go with everything. You can win, you can draw or you can lose but don’t look back and think ‘I could have done something more.’”

But Benitez knows he can’t control the players when they enter the field of play, having felt confident at Southampton that they could record a positive result.

He has a similar feeling going into the Swansea fixture and is banking on his players not making the sort of errors which has cost them dearly so far.

Benitez said: “We're trying to be clean with our instructions, to train well. And after in football sometimes you need a little bit of luck as well.

“If we score the first goal maybe we'll see the quality of these players during the whole game. The only thinking that I'm asking the players is that they have to give everything and finish the game without regret that they left everything there. I think everybody expects that. The fans will be behind them if they do that.

"I can see a group of players training really well and trying to do what they want to do. I don't see any fear, I know they're upset and disappointed after the way we played in the first half at Southampton so hopefully they will show the fans what the fans are expecting from them, fighting to the end and giving everything. That has to be the key for us for the next games.”

Having had success at almost every club he has managed, it would be understandable if Benitez was doubting taking on the challenge of keeping Newcastle up.

But the Spaniard said: “The way that we are working here is like we want to work. We have people helping you every time, you need things, you ask for things, they try to give you what you are asking for.

“The training sessions you organise things, you say you want to do this and that, the players follow you, the kit man, the medical department, everyone. It’s quite professional the club in a lot of ways and it’s the mentality in England. I like these things.

“That’s because I want to stay here because you can do a job. I can see things that maybe can be done better. That is also the positive thing because I can see the margin to improve. A lot of things are right but still you can improve. I would like to stay in the Premier League because I am sure we can put this team at a fairly good level.”

A victory over Swansea would at least bring fresh hope that he can achieve his short term goal – and be a sweeter way to enjoy his birthday.

Benitez said: "Hopefully they will give me three points; that will be fine. Hopefully I can enjoy it at the end of the game.

“My wife is coming so I want to stay calm. Hopefully enjoy cake, three points and that’s it. I don’t like to go drink, so I like to stay calm with the family, especially when you are here and your family is away. So if she is coming, I want to be sure that we get three points.”