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Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has admitted time is running out on his spell at the club after a woeful start to the season, as quoted by The Mirror.

What's the word?

After punching above their weight last season to retain their Premier League status, Newcastle have come crashing back down to earth in 2018-19 with a poor start to the campaign meaning the Magpies have failed to win any of their opening nine matches.

Defeat to Brighton on Saturday, alongside the other results in the top-flight, left Rafael Benitez's side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and the Spaniard has now admitted that time is running out in comments published by The Mirror.

Adored by Newcastle fans but continuously frustrated by a lack of support from owner Mike Ashley, the end appears to be nigh for Benitez after the Magpies' worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1898.

What was said?

"We’re a little bit under pressure because the time is short now. Everybody is a bit down. We lost a game we deserved to win but we have to keep going."

Will he leave?

With Ashley already facing regular calls for him to relinquish his control at the club as well as still trying to secure a sale, ousting Benitez could cause a mutiny on Tyneside but it is difficult to see where the Magpies go from here.

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Fixtures against Brighton, Crystal Palace, Leicester and Cardiff were certainly winnable, although the scheduling has not been kind to Newcastle as they have already played five of last season's Premier League top-six.

Newcastle now have a crucial run of fixtures against Southampton, Watford, Bournemouth, Burnley and West Ham but, at this stage and unless results drastically improve, it seems extremely unlikely that Benitez will still be in his role by the festive season.