RAFA BENITEZ’S decision to change Newcastle United’s tactics for last Sunday’s visit caused something of a stir, but Federico Fernandez is happy to have embraced a different approach.

Along with pundits, even the Magpies’ captain Jamaal Lascelles is believed to have had an issue with aspects of Benitez’s plan to move to a five at the back.

Newcastle turned in a decent enough display and were not too far away from claiming a point, so it would be no surprise to see them adopt a similar style at champions Manchester City on Saturday.

Fernandez was given the role in the middle of a three and impressed, just as he did as part of a four in an otherwise disappointing display in the Carabao Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

The former Swansea City man said: “We know how tough our start of the season is. Our focus is now on Man City, and they have more or less the same style as Chelsea, if not better.

“We have a few days to work in training, decide on the system we will play, and we will see if it’s the same. It’s always positive to have played a system already, and we have done that now. We need we need to stay in the game for as long as we can, to defend, move side to side, run a lot – and then attack when we can.

“The lads all work so hard and will put another big effort in at Man City. Hopefully we get a positive result there – and a bit more luck.”

Fernandez is not averse to playing with three centre-backs having regularly done that before at his former clubs.

He said: “I know the system and how it works, and why we need to do it against top sides like Chelsea and Manchester City.

“Teams try to put teams in between the lines and so we have to make sure we don’t give too much time to them, then we can recover the ball and try to create our own chances.”

Fernandez is believed to have been preferred to play in the middle of the three ahead of captain Lascelles. Fernandez said: “It’s an important position and I feel good that the gaffer has the confidence in me to play this role.”