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Rafa Benitez insists Cheick Tiote “has something to offer” to Newcastle United in the short term should he remain a Magpie.

It is looking increasingly likely that Tiote will remain a Magpies player until the turn of year after failing to secure a lucrative move away.

The 30-year-old has played just 16 minutes of competitive football so far this season, with the midfielder having attempted to negotiate a possible St James’ Park exit with clubs in Turkey, Greece and the Middles East.

And, despite having failed to complete a move away in the summer, the transfer window in the United Arab Emirates remains open until October 20 - so the defensive-midfielder could still depart Tyneside this month.

However, it is looking increasingly likely that Tiote will stay at United until January at the earliest - and Benitez insists he is enthused by the prospect.

Asked about Tiote’s current situation, Benitez replied: “I was talking with him on Tuesday because obviously we are still waiting, the 20th is the date the transfer window closes in the Emirates.

“But he is training really well, so I just told him: ‘Look, just wait a little bit, keep training hard and then we can decide.’

“Because he is a player who still has something to offer.”

Tiote’s only Magpies appearance came as a substitute for the final 16 minutes of Newcastle’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last month.

But Benitez asserts that Tiote is physically ready to play, if understandably low on match fitness - while the Spaniard is adamant that the rest of the Magpies squad have not been unsettled by the uncertainty over the midfielder’s situation.

“I think that they appreciate that he’s a good professional and it’s a normal situation for them,” Benitez explained when asked how the rest of the squad have dealt with the doubt over Tiote’s future.

“They know that the market is still open, they know that it’s not easy for a player to keep training but not necessarily be involved.

“But, because they can see him training, maybe they will say: ‘Pfft, he could start.’

“He’s not a player who is not physically at the level.

“It is one thing to be physically fit - and he is fine - but the other thing is the match fitness, and you have to play games to get match fitness.

“So maybe he’s a little bit short of match fitness, but every training session he is fine physically.

“It’s one more player in the squad and everybody is just waiting to see what happens.”