Newcastle manager Benitez recovering from surgery

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez is recovering from surgery and could miss Monday morning's AEST Premier League trip to Swansea City, British media reported on Thursday.

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez Source: Getty Images

Fitness coach Francisco de Miguel Moreno will stand in for the 57-year-old Spaniard at Friday's regular pre-game news conference.

The BBC said Benitez had undergone a hospital procedure during last week's international break to deal with an infection resulting from a hernia operation that he had more than two years ago.

The Newcastle Chronicle reported that the manager had attempted to return to Newcastle from the north-west on Thursday morning, but had turned back after suffering from pain while in the car.