Rafa Benitez has denied that he is not choosing Newcastle United midfielder Mo Diame because of the Senegalese international’s complex contract situation.
The 31-year-old will be awarded a new deal with the Magpies if he plays just a few more games this season, as reported by the Chronicle, but has found himself on the periphery of the squad, with Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden both impressing in recent weeks.
As quoted in the Chronicle, Benitez denies that Diame’s continued spell on the sidelines has anything to do with his precarious future at the club.
When asked whether it was a factor, he 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.”
OPINION
To be fair to Benitez, Diame’s contract situation probably isn’t a factor in his inability to force his way back into the side following his recent absence through injury. The Spaniard is a pragmatist first and foremost, and if he believed that Diame was the best option for his side in the centre of the park, you can bet that he would be playing him every week. In many ways it is just unfortunate for Diame that his injury came at a time of such dire need for the Magpies. The desperate times led to Benitez turing to Longstaff and Hayden, and he hasn’t looked back since. There is still every chance that Diame will win his new contract, but you would have to say that the prospects of him doing that are looking increasingly slim with each passing week. Benitez clearly thinks highly of him, but whether or not that will be enough for the midfielder remains to be seen.