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Newcastle United will not sanction any January sales of players who have become key to their promotion push, with Rafa Benitez set to be given the power to further strengthen his squad in the next transfer window.

United have built a six-point lead at the top of the Championship as they continue to ride a wave of goodwill that has built since it was confirmed that Benitez would be staying at the club back in May.

And news that the club neither need to nor have any intention of selling some of their better-performing player is another boost for the club.

The performances of some of United’s key players have not gone unnoticed, though. Several of United’s players have shown a marked improvement under Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles was linked with an £18million move to Chelsea in last weekend’s newspapers. Clubs have also been monitoring the form of Jonjo Shelvey, while a Manchester United scout was present at Preston.

But the message from the boardroom is that Newcastle are not interested in selling any of their players – something that is shared by Lascelles, who has indicated that he sees his job as staying at Newcastle and completing the promotion mission that was set for him.

As a young, English centre-half with the potential to play at a higher level Lascelles will always look like a saleable asset. Signed on the recommendation of Graham Carr back in 2014, Lascelles has improved immeasurably in the last six months.

He has also emerged as a crucial influence in the dressing room – and it will be heartening to Newcastle fans to hear him say that he wants to stay.

Lascelles said: “I saw a little bit (of the speculation). I really don’t know where that has come from. I can’t pay any interest in it.

He continued: “I am a Newcastle United player and my job is to stay here and hopefully be picking up a trophy at the end of the season. That is a long way away and that is my main objective and I won’t be thinking about anything else.”

United will have money to spend in January and have already begun the process of scouting for the window. Although publicly the club’s message has been that there is still a long way to go, privately the club want to start to build a squad for the Premier League.

Lascelles wants to be part of that. “It is an honour to be captain. This is one of the best followings in the country in terms of how passionate the fans are. We will do our all,” he said.

It has been some journey for Lascelles, who was an enthusiastic presence at the club’s Foundation Awards on Tuesday.

“When I sit back and think about it: last season not even making the squad, to now wearing the armband every week, it makes me proud of myself,” he said.

“22 is a young age to be captain at a very big club under Rafa Benitez. These events are special for me. I am leading this team and I am pleased.”