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Aleksandar Mitrovic is going nowhere during the January transfer window - according to Rafa Benitez.

The Newcastle United manager has heard plenty of questions about the Serbian international’s future after the striker was left out of the 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers this week.

Mitrovic has been linked with Napoli, Crystal Palace, Swansea and West Ham in recent weeks, with his non-selection against Rovers fuelling talk he will be moved on.

Bu Benitez took it upon himself, before even being asked about the former Anderlecht man, to respond to any talk the player might be sold.

He also took the unusual step of confirming that Mitrovic would start the game at Birmingham City, 26 hours before handing in his team sheet for the FA Cup third-round tie .

He said: “Just in case you ask, Mitrovic will play and he will start. Don’t worry about that.”

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And when asked why he was left out of the Blackburn game and his subsequent response, Benitez said: “He knows he has to keep working.

“When he knew he wouldn’t play, he went to work in the gym. We had a plan ready for him.

“Daryl Murphy is also working hard so deserved a chance.”

And just in case any fans fear that Mitrovic will be sold, Benitez said: “We are not interested in selling Mitrovic.”

Benitez also offered an update on transfers and said: “It’s not easy. We had targets that could have been here but aren’t for different reasons.”