MOHAMED DIAME has given Rafael Benitez food for thought ahead of Newcastle United’s crucial run of April fixtures which are likely to determine their Championship future.

Seven of the Magpies’ remaining eight matches will come along next month and Benitez needs as many options as he can after being hit by injuries to Grant Hanley, Daryl Murphy and Ciaran Clark this week; all three have had to return early from international duty.

Diame was asked to play in one of the holding midfield roles at Birmingham on Saturday, when he started alongside Jack Colback ahead of Jonjo Shelvey.

Benitez’s decision was based on not taking any risks with Shelvey’s fitness as well as wanting to see how he performed in that role.

Many think Diame is better suited to that more withdrawn role rather than the No 10 slot which he has mainly been used as.

The African midfielder has been inconsistent, failing to hit the heights he did during his time with Hull, West Ham and Wigan before moving to St James’ Park.

Benitez said: "I thought Mo was fine. We knew it could be a difficult game at Birmingham because they have three players in the middle and we had to manage that.

“But I thought Mo gave us some fresh legs and won plenty of second challenges. He was fine, he was passing the ball and also regained some balls that we lost.

“It was just disappointing that maybe some of the things we did in the wide areas could have been better. That might have helped us score a goal.

"It didn't really happen though. I wouldn't say that we were happy but maybe one more point with one less game is positive.”

Isaac Hayden is nearing full fitness so could be available for the visit of Wigan on April 1 after the international break, while it would be a major surprise if Shelvey was only named among the substitutes again.

Benitez, when asked if he would play Diame there again, said: “He could play in that position but it also depends on the players around him. Hopefully Hayden will be back in a few days and then we should also have Jonjo back to full strength.

"With Jack as well, that means quite a lot of competition - but it's good to have options, especially if you have to change something during a game.”

Benitez hopes the international break provides the extra time for the players carrying injuries to recover ahead of the final five weeks of the campaign.

With Clark unlikely to be fit for a number of weeks, there will be greater onus on Hanley being fit after his withdrawal from the Scotland squad with an ankle problem.

And, speaking yesterday, the former Blackburn defender said: “We’ve got a month and a bit when we get back to get fully focused and everybody knows what the goal is – promotion. It’s a massive month in the season for us.

“This gives us a chance to regroup, get on the training ground and then for the lads to have a wee break.

“We’re getting to the business end of the season and it might give people a bit of time to get back from injuries and things like that as well.

“But we can’t look too far in front of ourselves. We can only look at the next game, and we’ll just be playing for three points every week. That’s the target.”

Murphy is also a huge worry for Benitez. He withdrew from the Ireland squad with a calf problem and will be monitored closely amid fears he will be missing against Wigan.