By Frank McAvennie

17th Oct, 2021 | 8:00am

Pundit verdict on Benitez quitting Everton for Newcastle in 'spectacular' move after source latest

Frank McAvennie insists there is no chance of Everton boss Rafa Benitez accepting an offer to take over Newcastle.

The former West Ham hitman, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claims rejoining the Toon would be a backwards step.

A Newcastle source told Football Insider (October 12) that Benitez is one of the new regime’s top targets to replace Steve Bruce along with Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard.

However, speaking on Friday, Benitez, 61, distanced himself from speculation linking him with the Newcastle job.

Bruce’s future is in doubt after the club’s Saudi-backed takeover was confirmed last week.

Benitez has won four of his eight Premier League games in charge at Goodison Park with Everton sitting in fifth.

McAvennie claims the club’s good form means Benitez would never consider returning to St James’ Park.

“I think Rafa would leave Everton if he wasn’t doing so well,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.

“Say he hadn’t won yet, like Newcastle, it would be best for everyone to just cut ties.

“The opposite of that has happened and he’s now a bit of a hero there. I’ve said before he is doing a spectacular job.

“He’s also an icon at Newcastle so there are a lot of people who want him back.

“I just can’t see it. Maybe in the future, five or 10 years, if he’s still in the game.

“There’s a project at Everton and they are about three or four years ahead of Newcastle currently.

“It would be a backwards step for him.”

In other news, Everton have suffered a ‘huge blow’ after an injury update via a Twitter insider.