RAFA BENITEZ is satisfied with how DeAndre Yedlin and Javier Manquillo are coping with the battle to be Newcastle United’s right wing-man – even if he knows more money would bring in better players.

Yedlin and Manquillo have both performed solidly in recent weeks at right wing-back and have had a couple of matches in the side for Benitez to make a fresh opinion.

The American is currently the preferred choice after starting the last two games that earned four points against Everton and Bournemouth, even though the Magpies let four goals in.

Prior to Yedlin’s recall it was Manquillo’s turn to enjoy a two-match run but he lost his place after the defeat at West Ham.

Benitez is not prepared to guarantee either the starting spot for the run-in, with a trip to Arsenal next on the agenda on April 1.

But the Newcastle boss believes both Yedlin and Manquillo deserve to be in his thinking after helping the team climb seven points above the bottom three before this international break.

He said: “When you sign some players, it depends on the money you have and the necessity of the position. If you sign a striker and it can only be one striker then you have to spend some money.

“If you have to sign a full-back when you know you already have one then you cannot spend massive money. What does that mean? That you have a player that you can trust because he will be working every day and trying to be ready every day and if you need him he can play.

“I’m happy with both, they’re similar with their own characteristics and they’re giving us what we’re looking for. They’re giving us enough.

“Could we sign better players? Maybe we could go to the market and spent £15m, £20m or £40m on a full-back but we cannot so we have to manage what we have and I’m quite happy with both of them.

“In this case we have two players for this specific position. I would like to have the same in every position because then if one doesn’t play well then the other one is ready.

“Competition like that is always good. Sometimes you cannot have that. At the same time, I like to have players who can play in three or four positions then they give you more options.”

Provided Newcastle stay up this season and Benitez stays on, the Spaniard will look to make more changes to his playing staff ahead of next season.

Yedlin and Manquillo are two who have proven their worth as decent squad players and they are unlikely to be the highest in the thinking to let go.

But Benitez will be looking to clear out plenty, particularly those already on loan such as Rolando Aarons, Henri Saivet, Jack Colback, while Jacob Murphy and Dwight Gayle would be two others who would command sizeable fees.