He insists he is committed to the club but owner Mike Ashley’s failure to back him in the transfer market has left him questioning his future.
He has been priced out of a move for Sampdoria’s Dennis Praet and admits most of his current transfer targets – and some he has already signed – were not among his first or even second choices.
Newcastle face fellow strugglers West Ham at St James’ Park today without a point or a league goal and having crashed out of the League Cup in round two for the first time since 1990.
Rafa Benitez said: “When I said I would stay, it was because of the city, the fans, the stature of the club and to be close to my family.
“We won the Championship and made a £30million profit. I had a meeting with Mike and was expecting we could be in a better position than we are now.
“We are not. We will see if we can improve as much as we can this week. I will try to do my job.”