NEWCASTLE UNITED goalkeeper Matz Sels is not thinking about what Rafael Benitez has planned in the January transfer window, choosing instead to focus on winning his place back.

Benitez is looking at ways to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month as he attempts to keep the Magpies in one of the automatic promotion places come May.

Fulham’s Tom Cairney is the latest on the Spaniard’s radar, having been told Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek will not be allowed to leave. He remains interested in Everton’s Tom Cleverley and Manchester City’s Fabian Delph.

Benitez is keeping an eye on players available to add to his attacking ranks too and admitted last weekend he was hoping for progress before this Saturday’s trip to Brentford in the Championship.

The trip to Griffin Park will see Belgian goalkeeper Sels drop back down to the bench, having returned to the side which drew 1-1 at Birmingham City in the FA Cup.

The 24-year-old has not played in the Championship since drawing at Aston Villa on September 24; the last of a succession of errors that ultimately cost him his place.

Karl Darlow has played between the posts since then and Rob Elliot, who suffered a long-term injury last season, is on the verge of being in contention for a first team place, so the £4.5m summer signing knows he has a fight on his hands.

Sels said: “I try to work hard in training and show myself and make it difficult (for him to decide). That's what I try to do. It's football. Karl's doing well at the moment. As a goalkeeper, there's only one position, so it's normal. I have to be patient and see what the future brings.”

Having three goalkeepers available allowed Benitez to send Tim Krul out on loan, although the Dutchman’s time at Ajax has not gone to plan so far either.

Krul, who moved to Holland while recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, is still to make his Ajax debut with Andre Onana impressing since replacing Jasper Cillessen after his move to Barcelona.

Ajax boss Peter Bosz said: “Tim is a great guy to work with but he’s an optimist. When he came to us we had the idea he would work with us in full within two weeks.

“I like his enthusiasm but he wanted to participate with the first team before he had joined any group training. We have to be realistic and that would have been dangerous. What he wanted to do we just couldn’t do.”

Krul is not due to return from his loan until the summer and then he could complete a permanent switch to the Eredivisie if it suits all parties.

Newcastle are well stocked with keepers and Sels is determined to prove himself after leaving Belgium club Genk behind to pursue a new chapter of his career in England and on Tyneside.

He is expected to be back in goal against Birmingham in the FA Cup replay next Wednesday. He said: "The FA Cup is important, of course. You want to win every game as a football player. We will give everything to go through.

"The manager changed some players, but that is normal. The focus is on the Championship. It's also good to let some players rest and give some other players a chance to show themselves. I'm happy if I can play. Now there is a return and we have to beat them.”

Benitez would like to have a new player on board by then, although it has emerged Loftus-Cheek will not be one of them.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has ruled out any possibility of sending the midfielder out on loan. Conte said: "Ruben is an important player for Chelsea. He must know this. We trust a lot on him. For this reason it’s important to work a lot and to take satisfaction with our team.

"No, No. Absolutely (he’s not leaving). I don’t want this. For Ruben I don’t want this. He knows this and the club knows this. I want him to stay because he’s ready to play for the first team. If he shows me he wants to play, he knows that he plays.”