Rafa won’t let Lascelles go

RAFA BENITEZ is confident Newcastle can fight off interest from Tottenham and Chelsea and hang on to Jamaal Lascelles.

While the Magpies skipper looks like missing out on a place in the England World Cup squad, Lascelles, right, is very much in demand among the Premier League big guns.

With contract talks between Spurs and Toby Alderweireld having stalled and the Belgian set to leave this summer, Mauricio Pochettino has targeted Lascelles as a possible replacement.

Chelsea are also keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old, who has proved a solid captain since Benitez appointed him at the beginning of last season. “He is training well, improving and is focused,” said the Newcastle manager whose side will be bidding for a fourth straight win at home to Arsenal on Sunday.

“You can’t stop speculation but I was talking with him last week and he is quite happy here.” STOKE’S exiled trio of Saido Berahino, Jese Rodriguez and Ibrahim Affelay will stay out in the cold for Monday night’s crunch Premier League game at West Ham. Berahino, left, is practising with the reserves after turning up late for training, Jese has gone missing after not reporting back from compassionate leave in Spain and Affelay’s contract is set to be terminated. ●PHIL BROWN has been told he must wait until the end of the season for a decision on whether he will keep his job as manager of League Two side Swindon full-time.