Keeping focussed, staying united

RAFA NOT BANKING ON GETTING MANY MORE PLAYERS IN JANUARY WINDOW

Chief Sports Writer RAFA Benitez believes Newcastle United must battle on with the squad they have – regardless of a possible takeover at St James’ Park.

The Toon manager has issued a rallying cry to his players this week at the club’s Benton base as he hopes to end a run of three straight Premier League defeats.

However, despite a takeover being discussed by Mike Ashley (right) and Amanda Staveley – via their solicitors – Benitez does not expect much to change in terms of this season’s Premier League campaign.

After a week of talk that Staveley is getting nearer to a takeover, Benitez said: “We are not talking about that at the training ground because we don’t have any influence on that.

“All we can do is make sure the players train well and they focus on the games.

“My message for everybody is to stick together and support the team the way you are doing already.

“The away fans and at home are so good with the team and it is going to be the key.

“If we want to give everything in the games we will have confidence to do what they need to do. They need to feel the support from the fans and they have already felt that because it has been so good. “It is not easy when you lose games but the reality is we have what we have.

We are where we are and since September until January this is our family and we have to live with each other well.

“This is the group. We have to stick together.”

It is obvious Benitez’s squad needs to be bolstered in several positions, but the United manager is a realist and knows he may not get everything he wants when the transfer window opens.

He added: “Can we do something different in January?

“We will see, but remember that January is a difficult market and you cannot normally find what you are looking for.

“You find something that maybe can help. We will try to do that.

“Maybe we will get great expectations from some that we will sign five top-class players and they will make the difference.

“What we have is the belief that