Let’s not waste time on January

RAFA Benitez has banned talk of the January transfer window in the Newcastle United dressing room as he calls for focus between now and the next trading period.

The Toon boss will trust those behind the scenes to follow his instructions – but he has pointed to the 10 crucial games between now and the end of the year in the Premier League.

It’s quite clear Benitez’s side need improvements after he was handed a limited budget in the last window.

But with just three points on the board going into November, Benitez wants to turn his team from relegation fodder to mid-table contenders again.

He told the Chronicle: “The reality is that now is the time to concentrate on what we can change.

“That is the games we have in front of us.

“We are working and our scouts are out looking for players and targets.

“But we have to concentrate on the next 10 games.”

Managing director Lee Charnley has already held one summit meeting with heads of department such as Steve Nickson and Benitez to determine what could be needed in January.

But it is still very much early days on transfers.

And Benitez has dismissed a host of names linked with the club in recent weeks with his shortlist yet to be whittled down.

That will take place over the next four weeks ahead of the club’s final recruitment meeting.

But for now Benitez made his stance very clear.

He said: “We can’t waste time talking about January when there are games to play.

“Even if we do well between now and the end of December, January could change again.

“Or if we don’t do well things may change anyway.

“It is important to understand we are working on it but we have to concentrate on what we can change now.”