Welcome to today's live press conference blog as we hear from Magpies' boss Rafa Benitez ahead of Saturday's clash with Huddersfield Town.
Newcastle head into the game looking to avenge Sunday's late disappointment against Wolves - which was a second home defeat in succession. United notched a useful point at Everton on the road last week though, and their form away from home is more impressive.
Benitez won manager of the month earlier today. And there is plenty more on the agenda too, of course, with takeover talk dominating the week.
Plus there is the January transfer window only just a few weeks away, so where do United stand when it comes to landing their targets.
Join Lee Ryder and Chris Waugh for all the latest from the United boss.
What Rafa said rounded up
Thanks for joining us today! To sum up what Rafa said:
- Jonjo Shelvey is out of the Huddersfield game - and so is Federico Fernandez. It’s ten days before Shelvey can be “assessed”.
- Huddersfield represents a “Cup final” for NUFC, who - Rafa says - can’t be regarded as favourites for any game any more
- On Lejeune: “He is getting closer.”
- Benitez said there is “no news” on takeover or January transfers, which he is working on
- Rafa accepts away form is better than home form at the moment. “We can do things a little bit better away,” he says.
- Benitez says next two are “massive”
- Repeated his calls for VAR to be brought in immediatley - and says Yedlin appeal would have been a “waste of time”
Lee Ryder's reaction
He went live from the training ground to offer his summary. You can watch it here.
Shelvey: Not a short-term injury?
Rafa on Shelvey. This doesn’t sound positive at all:
We have to wait at least around another ten days & assess him again.
Florian Lejeune not quite ready
On Lejeune:
He is not available for this game, but he is getting closer. For Florian, it is good news. Normally with a cruciate ligament injury, it is six or nine months (out). In four months, he is back playing and that is good news for us.
Rafa on his manager of the month awards
More from Rafa on his manager of the month award:
Everybody here is working so hard. Sometimes you are lucky enough to win games in a row. A lot of hard work behind the scenes has been done.
Benitez on transfers
“We will go for the first then work down the list,” says Rafa about his transfer hopes.
Benitez: Next two are massive
Rafa admits next two games are “massive”.
For us, every game is like a final. We have to approach every game thinking 1 point could make a massive difference. That is why I was so upset against Wolves. It makes it so much more difficult for us when you have these decisions. The next 2 games are massive .
Rafa: Working with 'a lot' of names in January
Rafa on January targets:
We have been working for a while and looking for names and watching players. We have a lot of names and have to work with them.
Rafa on playing away from home
Rafa admits it maybe suits his team to be away from home:
We try to keep the team well organised away from home. The difference when you play away is that normally the other team is more exposed & open so you get more chances on the counter attack. We can do things a little bit better away at the moment .
Rafa: We're not favourites v Hudders
It was put to Rafa that his team are favourites against Huddersfield.
Since the last 2 windows, I don’t think we a few favourites against anyone. Am I confident we can beat anyone? Yes - but still we have to work hard to do it.
Rafa news
Here we go then. No Fernandez or Shelvey. Rafa on the team news:
Yedlin suspended, Fernandez has a knock in his calf, he is progressing but isn’t available. Shelvey will be assessed in the next 10 days .
Rafa Benitez presser
Rafa is in the room, we’ll have updates as soon as he’s done with the TV section of the presser...
Rafa's first MOTM for five and a half years
Nice stat from Mirror Football:
It is the seventh time the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss has won the accolade, but his first for five-and-a-half years.
Mooy out of Saturday's game
Wagner also confirms Aaron Mooy - who was so influential when Huddersfield beat NUFC last August - is out of Saturday’s game:
With him, first and foremost I feel for him. He has had two great months and now he is sidelined. Last year he had a knee injury and the players did well. We will do so again
Rafa on Manager of the Month Award
Rafa speaking to the Premier League after winning Manager of the Month:
To stay in the Premier League means that we have to stay united.
It’s a great message because as soon as you can hear the fans supporting the players, hear the fans behind the team, they play with a little more confidence and they run the extra mile that you need sometimes.
Wagner on NUFC
David Wagner has been giving his press conference:
In general Rafa’s team are very well organised and well drilled. They don’t give chances away and they have a targetman with Rondon. We want to keep them away from our box .
Newcastle have a lot of quality and experience. Quick players and tall players and they finished 10th last time. Hopefully we can get level with them.
Rafa Benitez press conference in 40 minutes
Afternoon all! We’ll be hearing from Rafa Benitez in 40 minutes as he previews the Huddersfield game. It’s a big one.
