RAFAEL BENITEZ has told Mike Ashley ‘don’t try to fix something that isn’t broken’ after suggestions Newcastle United’s owner is ready to take a more hands-on role at St James’ Park again.

Benitez insists he has not encountered any problems with Ashley since agreeing at the end of last season to stay on and lead the charge back to the Premier League.

But supporters have feared they could be on a collision course after weekend reports the sportswear business tycoon is keen to ensure chief scout Graham Carr reverts to his previous transfer policy of buying younger players with potential resale value.

Benitez, whose side face Birmingham in the FA Cup third round replay at St James’ Park tonight, brought in a number of players under the age of 26 last summer, while he was also given the go-ahead to target more experienced men such as Daryl Murphy, Mohamed Diame and Jesus Gamez. Even his £12m record buy, Matt Ritchie, was borderline at the age of 27.

The concerns have surfaced at a time when the Newcastle boss has found it hard to make the additions to his squad in the January transfer window which he had hoped for. Benitez is, though, adamant he is still leading the search for reinforcements.

He said: “We have had the same way to work as we have had during this month. I talk with Lee Charnley (managing director), we analyse all the options, we have meetings with the scouts and we ask for names. We check the names and after we go with the names and we try to sign the players. That is the same thing.

“I am not worried about if the player is 21, 28 or 30. The first thing for me is if he is good enough, and then we put the name there and if we can sign the player, we sign the player. If we cannot, then we need to find solutions.

“We have some names, we have had some names, we have but the names - “£20m”, “he's not for sale” – then we have to move forward and look for another one.”

Newcastle’s reluctance to overspend this month on players with inflated price-tags has been noted by Benitez. He does hope Ashley will give the go-ahead for some spending to boost the drive for a £140m promotion windfall, although accepts loans with a view to a permanent arrangement seem most likely.

But asked if he is as happy with the situation at Newcastle as he was in the summer window, Benitez said: “I am happier now because we are at the top of the table.”

He added: “My understanding is that Mike Ashley is really, really pleased, really happy with the team, with everything that we have done for months, and hopefully he can be really happy with everything we will do now until the end of the season.”

In the past Carr has been responsible for targeting and recruiting players, but Benitez prefers to take the lead on that front.

Benitez said: “We had a meeting maybe one month ago or something like that and we had a meeting the other day: names, names and then we put all the names [down] and after, we decide.

“The fans, the media say 'do you have the final say?' Yes, the club cannot sign anyone without talking with me, but at the same time, 'Can you sign whatever you want?' We are trying to sign what we need, that's what we are trying to do. We have to try to find the players that we need and after, the players that we want.”

Benitez is determined to add to his squad. A winger and attacking midfielder are his targets, although he has been knocked back in attempts to land Fulham’s Tom Cairney and Everton’s Tom Cleverley, among others. A surprise move to bring back Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace has been mooted too.

He reckons Newcastle are close to a deal for a player of a ‘good age’ even though he would not have any bones of signing a thirty-something if he felt it would boost the promotion push - like Murphy has.

His importance has grown after injuries to Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic and he scored the winner at Brentford on Saturday. The 33-year-old also scored the opener in the draw with Birmingham in the first FA Cup meeting between the two clubs.

Benitez, who confirmed that Vurnon Anita is facing up to eight weeks out with ankle trouble, said: “Daryl has proven that you have to have a balance. Our squad is quite young. If you see the average age, I think we are in the middle of the division. I think the oldest is Brighton. Brighton is near the top with experienced players.

“You know in the Championship, it is easier when you have a team already in the division and you have to add two or three players, than when you are going down and you have to change half of your squad. It is easier.

“My point is that we have to be so happy that we are in a very good position, changing players, making profit, all these things together. For me, it is very simple to understand what we need and try to improve the team.”

Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is available again after serving his five-match suspension tonight, while Isaac Hayden is unlikely to play after picking up an injury at Brentford.

Newcastle: Sels; Lazaar, Hanley, Lascelles, Yedlin; Colback, Tiote; Yedlin, Perez, Gouffran; Murphy.