Under Rafa Benitez, Newcastle United’s blueprint for survival in the Premier League was always going to be built on defensive solidity.

The former Liverpool manager asked for funds in both the summer and January transfer window but when Mike Ashley failed to oblige, it only made entrenched Benitez’s belief that a safety-first approach was the best way to stay in the top flight.

And so it has proved. This Magpies side is organised, diligent and disciplined but it lacks stardust. Currently, it looks as if they will just about avoid relegation but if they do drop, it will be down to a lack of creativity and goals scored.

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With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at the most creative players within Benitez setup; the ones who lay on the most chances for their team-mates.

One man came out way ahead of the rest; read on to find out who it was…

Tied in joint fifth are two summer acquisitions who have had their moments in a Newcastle shirt but probably lack the required quality and consistency to make a real impact.

Nevertheless, the numbers show that both Merino and Joselu have chipped in by making their fair share of chances, even if they will likely spend more time watching the relegation dogfight from the bench as opposed to playing in it.

Merino was brought in as a creative midfielder so it is more surprising to see Joselu – valued at £3.6m by Transfermarkt – so high in the rankings.

Atsu is an often unheralded player, but he makes a big impact for Newcastle.

He took a while to mature and Benitez likes him because he sticks to the task well and offers some much-needed pace to this Magpies setup.

He can still be a tad wasteful and if he sorts that out, he could go even higher up this list before the end of the season.

Perez is inconsistent but on his day, he can link midfield and attack better than anyone else in Benitez’ squad.

You get the feeling he is more comfortable as a provider than being relied on to provide goalscoring threat but Newcastle’s lack of a prolific number nine, who can also provide the hold-up play Benitez requires from his lone striker makes that difficult.

Still, Perez is a useful asset and will be one of Newcastle’s most important players in the run-in.

Shelvey may have been excluded from the England squad, denying him the chance to add to his six Three Lions caps, but there is no doubting his importance to Newcastle.

His defensive discipline is not the best – and there is no doubt that grates on Benitez – but his range of passing and confidence on the ball is much-needed in an otherwise workmanlike Magpies side.

It is looking ever more doubtful that his season will end with a summer trip to Russia but if he keeps making chances for others from deep, he should still be a Premier League player come May.

Ritchie is head and shoulders above the rest here, taking on his second season in the Premier League as impressively as he did in his maiden top flight campaign with Bournemouth.

The demands Benitez puts on his wide players means that Ritchie doesn’t have as much freedom to cut inside and affect play as he might like but he is clearly not struggling to make chances.

Him continuing to do so is vital if Newcastle are to survive.