"Rafa (Benítez) is a top, top manager. He texted me after the Uruguay game to say well done. I spoke to him last week about my future and he thanked me for what I had done and said they were going to listen to a few offers. I said 'that’s fine'. I always knew I had been brought in there to do a specific job, to help the club get promoted.

Last season was good, though, Rafa managed everything very well. We had a lot of big name players and maybe if it had been another manager he wouldn't have got the best out of them as there would have been players sulking. But he used every player in the squad at the right time so everybody was fighting for a place. When the other strikers got injured, I knew I had to produce the goods for him, and I did, getting three goals in three games".