The Magpies' manager is always keen to help and share ideas with coaches from all over the world, and last month welcomed Spanish fitness experts Javier Miñano and Jose Angel Garcia to the club's Benton base.

On Monday and Tuesday this week, Hisham Sorour - the former assistant coach of Al-Ain FC, the UAE's biggest club side - visited Tyneside to spend some time with Benítez and his staff.

Egypt-born Sorour - who has also coached in the USA - first met Benítez several years ago and explained: "I was lucky enough to be with him and chat for a little bit.

"I had a trip here to get more familiar with (athlete monitoring software company) Prozone, and I asked if I could come to observe his training.

"I've been following Rafa from Liverpool to Chelsea to Inter Milan to Real Madrid and then to Newcastle, and just to watch him at work was an honour. I watched 45 minutes on Monday and then saw the team train on Tuesday as well, and they were great sessions."They were very organised - there was no time wasted at all. They flowed and it was very interesting to watch. I'm very grateful to Rafa for allowing me to visit."