BRAZILIAN winger Kenedy has been challenged to prove he has what it takes to be a success over the longer term by the manager determined to help him fulfil his potential at Newcastle United.

Rafa Benitez, the Magpies boss, has been surprised by the South American's disappointing start to the campaign but feels there have been factors in his low-key performances.

Kenedy was excellent during his five month loan last season when he helped Newcastle climb up to tenth in the table with his displays and contribution.

This time around he has more pressure on him, having been signed as Newcastle’s main winger from Chelsea on a season long loan.

And because of the length of this deal, and the importance to the squad he carries, this represents the biggest season yet for Kenedy as he is now 22 and at the right age to really prove his worth.

Benitez said: “He has to be consistent. He was doing really well for us for six months, now he has to prove he is someone who can play at this level for a while.

“I think he can do it but he had a difficult summer with the baby. She (his partner) was in Brazil, in London, so it was difficult but little by little it will settle down. He wants to do well and he has to do well.

“I was talking to him in English, trying to encourage him to carry on and keep working hard. At the moment he has some problems - some pain in the groin - so we're working on that. He has to come early and go with the fitness coach and physio. He's not fully fit and perfect so we have to do little bits with him.

“If he has physical little problems, it's something he has to sort out. But mentally he has to be focused and to realise he's a player who can make a difference for us.”

Kenedy has already started four games this season even though he has not been at his best and it is hoped the international break will have helped him. Benitez has still not ruled out a full-time switch for him in the future.

The Newcastle boss said: “My experience with players when it is so early in the season: leave them just playing well and afterwards you have plenty of time to talk about the future.

“We can be saying: 'If he is doing well, maybe he will go back to Chelsea'. But Chelsea may sign three players who can play in his position as well. Then he will see he has no chance of playing there and stays here.

“Still, I think it is too early to talk about that but in his head, the main thing is to just keep playing well. At the moment it is a loan but we have a very good relationship with Chelsea, with him and his agent so we are in a good position.”

Kenedy’s poor start has coincided with Newcastle’s. Benitez is not worried about his team’s position in the bottom three, even though he wants to see his team “manage” games better in a bid to find a first win of the season.

Newcastle have lost three of their opening four games in the league and the goalless draw at Cardiff City did little to inspire after a difficult summer on the transfer front at St James’ Park.

Throw in the fact that Newcastle lost at Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup and it is little wonder Benitez, his players and the fans are becoming increasingly desperate to celebrate a first win.

This Saturday will see Arsenal travel to Tyneside and it represents another fixture against tough opposition, with Benitez left nursing a narrow one-goal defeat to Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City already.

The Spaniard feels that is what everyone should remember as they look to climb out of the relegation zone, with Crystal Palace and Leicester City two further teams who will cause problems before the end of September even if they are not necessarily chasing Champions League spots.

"We know that we did well defensively as a team, as a unit, but we didn't do as well in transition and attack. That is a reality,” said Benitez. “To lose by a one-goal margin against three top sides, you can say that we were nearly there.

“To draw against Cardiff when we had the chance was a disappointment. The good thing is that we know that is the way, to keep working as hard as we did as a unit to defend. Also, we know that we have to be better in attack and take more chances if we want to win games."

He added: "The reality is that they knew already the fixtures were very difficult and it could be something like that. They know that doing things in the way they did last year, we can change things and be stronger and start getting points.

“Being in the bottom three is something you might expect when you look at our fixtures. Obviously we were confident we could get results against Cardiff and any of them and the reality is we were very close - but not close enough.

“Sometimes you need a bit of luck. Against Cardiff it was very clear: the penalty made a massive difference in the end. But against Tottenham we hit the post, the crossbar. We were close to having something that would give you more belief for the other games.

“Then we score against Chelsea and concede too early. You have to manage these games a bit better. Even against Nottingham Forest it was the same, we drew level but then conceded straight away. It's something you can do better, to manage the game in the last minutes. That comes down to experience.”