Jamaal Lascelles joined Newcastle United in the summer of 2014.
Benitez has suggested that central defender Lascelles has progressed and developed working with him, and has admitted that he did not look great when he initially saw the former Nottingham Forest star.
The Spanish coach has been in charge of the Magpies since March 2016, while the 24-year-old has been part of the Newcastle first team since the 2015-16 season after he spent the 2014-15 season on loan at Forest following his switch from the Reds in the summer of 2014.
The centre-back, who earns £40,000 per year as salary at Newcastle according to Spotrac.com, has established himself as a key player in the Magpies’ first team, and has made 24 starts in the Premier League so far this season.
Benitez told The Sun: “You are really pleased when you see your players growing. I remember when I was talking about getting this job, I was watching them in their earlier games.
“Lascelles wasn’t playing too much, but it seemed like he had the potential. You could see something, but you couldn’t see a player. So I’m really pleased with that, really proud of this.”
Lofty target
Newcastle are just four points above the Premier League relegation zone at the moment and are remain in danger of getting relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.
The Magpies, though, seem to have lofty ambitions for the future, with Benitez stating that he wants to finish in the top eight of the Premier League.
Benitez told The Sun: “I can see the potential for this club to be in the top ten and even higher. Higher could be in the top eight. But now the priority is to concentrate on staying up.”
Return to action
Newcastle will return to action on March 31 after the two-week international break with a match against Huddersfield Town at St. James’ Park in the Premier League.
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