Welcome to the Newcastle United live blog with all the latest news, views and transfer round-ups for Friday, September 16.
The Magpies head into tomorrow's home game with Wolves in confident mood after their 6-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers - but one thing is for sure . . . the same side won't run out against the west Midlands side tomorrow.
Rafa Benitez is making good use of his strong squad and with the likes of Dwight Gayle and Mo Diame not in action last Tuesday, there's a fair chance they will be pushing for a start against Wolves.
The Spaniard always keeps us guessing of course, but he will be speaking to the media today - we'll bring you all the latest as it happens from inside the United camp.
Here is all the latest news for Friday - as we build up to the Molineux clash.
As always we also want to hear from you! If you have any opinion on a matter we discuss in the blog or anything Newcastle United related, please tweet us at @ChronicleNUFC with your views and they could be featured, and discussed.
Catch up on all the latest with Mark Douglas , Lee Ryder , Chris Waugh and Stuart Jamieson.
Key Events
Zenga on NUFC
Walter Zenga talks Newcastle. These quotes are from the Express & Star, a tome that only employs the finest writers to cover Wolves (so I hear).
Talking about another team (Newcastle) is always difficult. My philosophy is that we’re concentrating on my team and what we have to do.
Talking about Newcastle and what they are, or the atmosphere or the coach, is useless, because everybody knows.
They are a famous club, have a big stadium, and that’s why for me it’s the right game for us in the right moment.
The fact you know some (opposition) players better or not doesn’t help you. For example, someone can think they didn’t know the players of Barnsley, and they lost the game.
It’s not true because I can tell you all the things about the players of Barnsley.
We can also say he (Rafa Benitez) doesn’t have experience of the Championship! No, just joking. He’s one of the top managers. His last team was Real Madrid!
Matt Ritchie in numbers
Matt Ritchie won Newcastle’s Player of the Month award for August, it was announced today.
Squawka have provided his stats for the season so far - and they make for some great reading.
Benitez dedicates award to full NUFC team
Rafa Benitez was today awarded with the Performance of the Week award for his side’s win over QPR. He put out the following statement:
Today, after the usual working session of our staff, it has made me delivering a recognition by the LMA (League Managers Association) as a reward for what they call the ‘Best Performance of the Week Championship’. I received the award on behalf of my coaching staff, medical and auxiliary body and all levels of the organization who are working, day by day, we can do our job in the best possible conditions. But above all, and of course, on behalf of the members of our staff. For their involvement, their ability to work, their effort, their sacrifice ... Thanks to the LMA for this distinction that recognizes the merits of an entire work group. I leave an image delivery has taken place this morning. And now to continue to prepare our game tomorrow. COME ON !!! TOONS
How can you not love the man?
Rafa accepts LMA award
Rafa has dedicated his LMA award to his coaching staff.
I received the award on behalf of my coaching staff, medical and auxiliary bodies and all levels of the organization who are working, day-by-day, we can do our job in the best possible conditions.
But above all, and of course, on behalf of the members of our staff. For their involvement, their ability to work, their effort, their sacrifice.
Thanks to the LMA for this distinction that recognizes the merits of an entire work group.
Don Goodman on Gayle's Goal of the Month
Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman had this to say on Dwight Gayle’s free-kick against Reading which has been voted Goal of the Month.
The skill required to hit the ball with enough power and precision to beat Al-Habsi from more than 30-yards is one that few possess .
NUFC team news
Bit of team news for you. Two players definitely out tomorrow - both named here.
ICYMI: Dwight Gayle's Goal of the Month video
As if we need another excuse to watch the goal vs Reading that won Dwight Gayle the award...
Dwight Gayle: Goal of the Month
Confirmation from Newcastle, as we reported on Wednesday, that Dwight Gayle won the award for Championship Goal of the Month for August.
Here he is with his award.
Rafa Benitez's full press conference
If you missed it earlier, here’s everything Rafa Benitez said in his press conference.
Rafa on rotation:
“I don’t think Lazaar or Murphy will play tomorrow. Maybe they will play on Tuesday. Picking a squad, not just a team, (is) my biggest problem. I have to leave lots of players in stands. Everyone will get chances.”
Rafa warning against over-confidence:
“We are no better than anyone before the game. We can be better than someone after a game but not before. No over-confidence.
“This is the Championship. It’s a tough competition and we have to be ready for the next game. We have to respect the opponent.”
Rafa on whether NUFC can improve:
“The team can still improve and score more goals. We can control games in another way and play well.”
On Wolves - and the prospect of playing them after their 4-0 midweek defeat:
“Wolves are not a bad team. They are doing well. It will be totally different to what people are expecting.”
Rafa Benitez’s piece de resistance:
“We have a city behind the team.”
Peter Beardsley flag
We’re absolutely loving this latest flag for Peter Beardsley from Gallowgate Shots:
Can you guess Rafa's team?
You’ve heard from Rafa now, now see if you can guess his side.
He’s admitted himself today how difficult he’s finding it to pick his team, and he’s shown already how much he likes to rotate.
Just for fun then, we want you to try and second-guess Benitez and predict the team he’ll play against Wolves.
Use our team selector here:
Rafa on keeping things in perspective
Rafa repeating a message he put out on Monday about keeping feet firmly on the ground.
Lee Ryder - live from the press conference
Our Chief sports writer on the Press Conference he’s just seen.
Benitez: No complacency about Championship challenge
Benitez says that the Championship is a tough league.
Benitez on his rotation plans
Benitez also admits it’s getting difficult for him to pick a team with everyone playing so well.
Wolves still a 'good team'
Rafa says he is not being taken in by Wolves’ mid-week defeat by Barnsley:
Benitez wants more from his NUFC
He’s never satisfied, is he? Benitez calling for more improvement from his side.
Rafa on his way
Expecting Rafa in a matter of minutes. The drill - if you’re joining us for the first time - is Rafa speaks to the TV stations and we can bring you a few snippets of that. That usually focuses on injuries and reaction to any stories from this week.
Then he talks to the radio and written journalists (newspapers and digital). This stuff is usually embargoed for 10.30pm tonight or first thing in the morning.
View from the Wolves camp
Word from the Wolves camp ahead of Saturday’s big game. Wolves hit man Jon Dadi Bodvarsson - you may recognise him as the man who played a part in England’s demise at the Euros - told the club’s official website:
Tuesday was a hard kick in the butt and sometimes that is necessary in football, and makes you even better in the next games.
There is not a lot of time to talk about what happened.
Now we go straight into the Newcastle game. We don’t need to motivate ourselves for Newcastle which is a really attractive club to come up against.
You always want to test yourselves against the best teams. We want to bounce back but it will be a tough game.
I don’t think the Barnsley game will affect our confidence. We know what we can do – unfortunately it happened and we talked about it but I am confident we can bounce back.
I am not focusing on what Newcastle are doing and what their last results were.
We need to focus on ourselves, believe in the things we are doing and keep the momentum that we had at the start of the season. If we do that then everything is possible.