RAFA Benitez is backing Belgian keeper Matz Sels to recover from his uncertain start to the season with Newcastle United and will stick with him for today's awkward test at Bristol City.

Sels, a £5m signing from Gent in the summer, has not found it easy to adapt to life in the Championship, but boss Benitez said yesterday: "I think he is doing better every time.

"We signed him knowing that he was the best keeper in Belgium. Sometimes that means that a lot, but sometimes it means little because you are going to a new country, a new league, another tempo, another style of football, so you need some time to settle.

"When you concede a goal it can hit confidence. But he is a good worker and is doing well. He will keep improving every week. If he can make two or three saves, then that will be great because it will give him a bit of time."

Benitez has already proved he is prepared to make surprise changes to his line-up, but is reluctant to rotate keepers in the same way.

He said: "You can change a full-back, you can change a winger, you can change a striker - it depends on the other players around.

"But the keeper has an influence on the team and he has to have confidence, so it's important to give him confidence."

The recall of Yoan Gouffran for the midweek win over Reading represents the most startling of Benitez's selection decisions this season - and the Frenchman could keep his place this afternoon.

Benitez is aware that Gouffran prefers to play as a striker and scored some important goals at the start of his time at St James' Park.

The manager said: "He's a player that I like. He's a very good professional and I'm very pleased with him. We know it's not ideal for him because he's a striker, but he works very hard so he can play as a winger."

Despite calling up Gouffran, it's believed Benitez would still be tempted sell him before the transfer window shuts because his contract has less than a year to run.

But the odds are that he will stay because several French clubs who shown an interest are not able to match his salary at United.

One player on his way out is Siem de Jong, who will join PSV Eindhoven on loan. He said: "I thought it was the right time to return to Holland and I have not made a secret of my plans when PSV got in touch with me.

"Benitez has said he sees a future for me at the club but feels that I need matches at a level to judge me. And he said he can’t guarantee me games in the Championship."

The manager does believe de Jong may be able to handle home game in the Championship, but added: "Because of the physicality and intensity of the Championship and because he has not played so much, it will be easier for him to play in the Premier League or maybe Holland."

"I think it was the time to give him a chance to play every week. "It's an opportunity. Everything is more or less done. Hopefully, he can go to PSV, play and enjoy his football, and afterwards we can bring him back and he can play at the level we know he has."

Benitez is hoping to see Newcastle win away from home for the first time today since he took charge. He said: "The team is training well, but when you have three games a week you do not have too much time to prepare.

"Tactically, the team will improve and everybody needs to know what they have to do. If you have this, then you can win away games.

"Yes, sometimes it is character. Sometimes it's a lot of things as well, but I would like to be sure that we will pick the right players for the away games - and also for the home games. But this game maybe is too soon to prepare things because maybe we still don't have the squad ready.

"But after August 31 we have to sure we have the team, we have the squad, and everybody has to know what they have to do and so we need to show the character at home, but also away."