RAFAEL BENITEZ has challenged Andros Townsend to cement a place in the England squad for this summer’s European Championships by firing Newcastle United to safety in the final two games of the season.

Newcastle head to already-relegated Aston Villa this afternoon looking to remain out of the bottom three ahead of their final-day meeting with Tottenham. With both Sunderland and Norwich City due to play their game in hand on Wednesday, it is imperative the Magpies claim all three points at Villa Park to give themselves the best possible chance of remaining in the top-flight.

Their survival hopes would have been all but extinguished had they not claimed eight points from their last four matches, with Townsend’s fine recent form proving a key factor in their unbeaten run.

The winger’s four league goals in his last nine appearances are more than he managed in the whole of his eight-year spell at his previous club, Tottenham, and his influential displays have led to calls for him to be included in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016.

All ten of Townsend’s senior international caps have come under Hodgson, with his goal against Montenegro playing a key role in England’s successful qualification for the last World Cup finals in Brazil.

His most recent international appearance came as a substitute in last October’s qualifying win over Lithuania, and with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having been ruled out of this summer’s finals because of injury yesterday, he finds himself competing with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott for the wide positions in Hodgson’s 23-man squad.

Benitez feels Townsend’s current form merits his inclusion, and has cited his work rate and willingness to track back as key assets that set him apart from some of his rivals.

“For me, I think he deserves a place with England,” said the Newcastle boss. “I think he’s doing so well that he can be in the squad without any problem.

“He has quality, but it’s not just about that quality from free-kicks and the way that he plays, it is also that he works so hard, helping the team out in defence.

“When you are a manager, you are looking for players you can trust. He can make the difference in attack, but he also helps in defence. Physically, he is fine now, and he has a lot of confidence in himself.”

Having scored the winner in last weekend’s win over Crystal Palace, Townsend is likely to be an influential figure again this afternoon as Newcastle look to inflict more misery on an Aston Villa side that is crashing into the Championship in a state of considerable chaos.

Newcastle’s supporters have not forgotten the way in which Aston Villa’s fans gleefully celebrated the Magpies’ relegation at Villa Park in 2009, and having been greeted by a series of mocking banners on that day, the away contingent are expected to extract a degree of revenge with some taunts of their own this afternoon.

“It’s not really up to me to say what they should or shouldn’t do,” said Benitez. “I can’t say that – they have to do what they want to do. But my impression as Newcastle manager is that we need our fans behind the team and concentrating on that.

“That is the positive approach I would like to see, but they can do what they want because they know better than me what they feel. The most important thing is to get a different result (to 2009).”

Villa have lost 11 games in a row since they last tasted victory against Norwich in early February, but while Newcastle have improved markedly in recent weeks, they are still without an away win since mid-December.

They will start as strong favourites this afternoon – a somewhat unusual position on their travels – but while last weekend’s win over Palace has created a feel-good factor, Benitez has warned against the dangers of complacency despite Villa’s parlous state.

“The hard work is not done,” he said. “The message is the opposite of that. Villa are making mistakes, but still they are creating chances and working hard.

“There will be a strange atmosphere because the fans are not happy – maybe there will be a protest or whatever – and whether that is a positive or negative for them, we will have to see. They could have more determination, but we just have to go there with the attitude of doing well and trying to give them more problems.”

Benitez’s main selection dilemma comes at right-back, with Daryl Janmaat having recovered from the hand injury he sustained when he punched a dressing-room door in the wake of last month’s 3-1 defeat at Southampton.

Janmaat has been training with a protective cast, and Benitez must decide whether to restore the Dutchman to the starting line-up or stick with Vurnon Anita, who has proved a more than capable deputy in the last few games.

“Janmaat is training well, and he has told me that he wants to go back and wants to give something to the team,” said Benitez. “He knows it is important for everyone to stay up and is desperate to help.

“But Anita is making a great effort because he also had a problem, but is still training. I’m pleased he is available and he is an example to the rest of the team.”