Newcastle United’s current forwards have struggled to hit the back of the net so far this season.
Newcastle have come in for heavy criticism from pundits this season, with Benitez’s side struggling.
The Magpies only picked up their first win of the season against Watford at the weekend, and Benitez was keen to protect his players from the criticism.
Newcastle’s squad were told not to listen to pundits, apart from Shearer, in a bid to keep confidence high.
And Benitez admits that he wishes Shearer was still playing, as he would have liked to have signed the Magpies legend to play up-front.
“We don’t need to read too much press and we need to just concentrate on football,” Benitez said.
‘If we could add players we could increase competition.
‘Everybody has an opinion. But the main one for me is Alan Shearer so maybe I will try to sign him and play him up front! Unfortunately I can’t.
‘We have what we have and we have to make sure we get the best from this group of players.”
Newcastle are on the look out for a clinical striker, as they aim to increase their attacking threat.
Newcastle’s current striking options have failed to score with any regularity so far this season.
Ayoze Perez did at least get off the mark for the campaign, when he scored against Watford this weekend.
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