Rafa choices not affected by Mo talks
RAFA Benitez has revealed that Mo Diame’s complex contract situation is not affecting his team selection at the moment.
Diame, 31, is just a handful of games away from triggering a one-year extension, but is keen for a two-year deal as he looks to play his peak years with Newcastle United.
But, as it stands, United don’t have a two-year offer on the table for Diame and while he has asked for a longer stay on Tyneside, he will have to settle for just an extra year if he is involved in further games.
Alternatively, if Diame does not play again this season he will be allowed to leave the club on a free transfer and potentially pursue other offers, with big interest from the Chinese Super League in previous windows - a move that would earn him one last pay day before retirement.
Diame was left out of the squad for the 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town but is fully fit.
When asked if his contract issue is a factor in team selection, Benitez said: “No, not really. My priority is to be sure that we can win games.
“He is training really well and he was playing at the beginning of the season in all the games because he is a worker.
“He helps the team and people around him to play their style of football. I think he will be another important player for us.”
Benitez went for Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden in the engine room against the Terriers on Saturday and the combination worked well as both players had excellent games.
But Benitez must now consider whether to use Jonjo Shelvey, Ki or Mo Diame against Burnley.
Benitez added: “You have Jonjo Shelvey who is technically very good. Ki has the understanding of the game. Diame is the worker. Hayden and Longstaff both have a little bit of everything.
“In the end you have different types of players for different things.
“Obviously if I pick a couple and we win people say: ‘Right selection’. If I make a substitution and we win they say: ‘Right substitution’. If not (if it goes wrong) it’s: ‘Why didn’t you do the other thing’. But that’s football.”