CHRISTIAN ATSU wants Newcastle United to lift the spirits on Tyneside by piling more misery on Jose Mourinho – which would take a step towards a summer holiday courtesy of Mike Ashley in the process.

The Magpies will head to Old Trafford on Saturday looking end the wait for a first win of the season, knowing that there is also growing unrest in Manchester after their disappointing start to the campaign.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez, due to speak with the media at Friday lunch-time, will hope Wednesday night’s clear-the-air dinner involving him, his staff, the players and Ashley in Northumberland will help spark improved performances and results.

The Newcastle owner promised to take Benitez’s squad on holiday if they avoid relegation and he has attempted to quash uncertainty surrounding the future ownership of the club by indicating to them he will not be selling up this season.

Ashley, who has denied claims that he swore at fans after spending three hours at Rialto’s restaurant in Ponteland attempting to improve relations with Benitez and the players, also stressed to everyone that night that he is desperate to keep the Spaniard in charge.

The Sports Direct chief has watched Newcastle’s last two games against Crystal Palace and Leicester City, and the 2-0 home defeat to the Foxes last Saturday led to him making his move to invite them to dinner after a chat with managing director Lee Charnley.

Those two results meant that Newcastle’s winless run was extended to seven games and Ashley indicated he wants a more hands-on role in a bid to keep Newcastle in the Premier League, knowing the uncertainty surrounding Benitez’s contract has not helped either.

Benitez is keen to see his ambition is matched by the club’s owner before signing a new deal, with his existing terms due to expire in the summer. The Newcastle manager wants money set aside for squad investment in January and previous plans to upgrade training facilities revived.

Ashley is clearly keen to protect his asset after a week when it emerged former Chelsea and Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon had expressed an interest in buying the club.

At this stage Kenyon has just been asking about the price, while it is believed he is not close to having a team behind him with the finances in place to follow that up – even if he does hope for that to change.

Newcastle will head to Manchester United on Saturday knowing Mourinho’s disagreements with certain players could make it an ideal time to face them. The Red Devils have not won at home in four games.

For that to happen Newcastle need to turn in a performance of their own to cause them problems, which was something they failed to do against Leicester last week when Jonjo Shelvey’s effort from half-way was the only shot they recorded on target.

Atsu, who will hope to keep his place on the wing, said: “We have to win that game to release the pressure to give us more confidence and to look at the table better.

“We are going to work hard in training to improve, each and every one of us. We know it will be difficult at Old Trafford but we have no excuse.

“The game is going to be very hard because they lost last week at West Ham. They are a big team, they don’t lose many games in a row. It will be very difficult and we won’t want to lose the game. It will be a tough one but we will be doing everything we can to win it.”

Atsu’s chances of starting could depend on whether Benitez feels Kenedy deserves to keep his place. The Brazilian disappointed at left-back last week but Paul Dummett’s likely return from injury means he could be moved further up the field. Argentine defender Federico Fernandez is also expected to be involved again.