BENITEZ BANS BOOZE FOR NEWCASTLE’S TRIP TO SPAIN

RAFA BENITEZ will make sure his Newcastle squad avoid a repeat of West Brom’s ill-fated Spanish getaway by banning alcohol and parties during next weekend’s mid-season break. The Premier League’s bottom club made headlines following a trip to Barcelona last month when four players allegedly stole a taxi and drove it back to their hotel after breaking a team curfew. But Benitez insists Newcastle’s break in Alicante will be a sober affair. ‘I am not too bothered about going to Spain for the sun,’ said the Spaniard, whose side face Southampton this afternoon and then have a three-week break before entertaining Huddersfield. ‘I can do that any time — but 21 days is too many without a game. ‘I don’t usually like to take everyone away from their families but we needed to do something so we will go for four days to Spain. Not too long, no parties. ‘We will try to keep everyone together. The good thing is that the complex is not in the middle of the town, so they have to stay there, relax and focus on football. ‘So there are no concerns, we have everything under control.’ Asked if his players would be allowed to drink, Benitez said: ‘Yes, they can drink water, no problem.’