NEWCASTLE manager Rafa Benitez has been giving a press conference ahead of this weekend's game with Wolves.

The manager confirmed that Dwight Gayle is back in training, but the leading goalscorer will NOT be included in the squad for the trip to Molineaux.

Gayle has a history of hamstring problems and Newcastle's medical staff do not want to take any chances. However, he could feature in Tuesday's trip to Norwich.

On there being no easy games 

“We know that in the Championship you do not have easy games. Every game, especially away, everyone wants to beat you - we are ready though.

"We are at the top, we have more points than everyone else, and we are happy. But we know that the next game is always the most difficult.

“I said before that April will be crucial because we have seven games. We have to carry on as we are. If we keep winning, it will be easier."

On the transfer window

“I don’t agree with a long transfer window because you have distractions. I don’t like it in August because you are playing games and yet the players are still moving, and I don’t like it in January although you need some time to fix things.

“It will be totally different. They have a new manager and we changed players for the two games. There are different players now too and it will be totally different, “I am not thinking about Norwich – I am just thinking about getting three points in first game."

On Dwight Gayle

“Dwight has been training. He has just completed some training sessions so he is very, very close now.

“I am quite happy with the other players because they are doing well, but when you have a player with 20 goals he is always a threat for defenders. Were we missing him? Yes.

"But not because other people were not doing their job “We signed him (Grant Hanley) because we were looking for players with experience in the Championship.

"He is a great professional, good for the team spirit, and when he has had to play he has done well. We are happy with his contribution and hopefully he can do better between now and the end of the season.

“I think it will be close. Some teams are doing well. They are in form. Everybody can lose points. All the teams will be pushing, and April could be crucial because we have so many games.

“We have a problem that I had in the past that almost everyone is available now. Only Rolando Aarons and Vurnon Anita are missing."

On Jonjo Shelvey and his ban for racist comments made against Wolves' Romain Saiss

“I think Paul Lambert (Wolves boss) has been clear – we have to concentrate and focus on football, hopefully it will be like this. When you have a good player and two good teams, it is important to focus on the football.”