RAFAEL BENITEZ will be keeping a close eye on defender Ciaran Clark this week in the hope the central defensive pairing which has served Newcastle United well in recent months does not need to be broken up.

Clark is being monitored closely after being forced off with a knee problem during the second half of Saturday’s defeat to Fulham at St James’ Park.

It is hoped the injury is not too serious, but Benitez will not take anything for granted in the build up to this weekend’s trip to Birmingham City.

Grant Hanley and Chancel Mbemba are both options to fill the void that is likely to be left by Clark when Newcastle head to St Andrew’s.

There will be no risks taken for that one game knowing there are still eight matches remaining after facing the Blues.

Martin O’Neill has still named Clark in a provisional Republic of Ireland squad to face Wales and Iceland later this month, citing he has been told the former Aston Villa man’s injury should not keep him out for long.

O’Neill said: “I’m hoping that Ciaran’s injury is not that serious. I don’t know for sure but I don’t think it is. I think taking him off was just precautionary.”

Nevertheless the problem has placed Clark’s appearance at Birmingham in doubt. Benitez said: “Clark picked up a knock with his knee, so we will have to see how he is.”

Jamaal Lascelles and Clark have become Benitez’s preferred choice partnership at the heart of the Newcastle defence. That has been the case, with the exception of one or two games through injury, since Mbemba lost his place after the defeat to Wolves in September.

Benitez is looking for Newcastle to show mental strength at Birmingham after allowing their good work from their three unbeaten games against promotion rivals to be undone.

The Spaniard’s side had taken control of the promotion race after victories over Brighton and Huddersfield, however they have allowed both clubs back into it after failing to beat Reading and then losing at home to in-form Fulham.

Brighton have drawn level on points with Newcastle once more with nine matches remaining, with Huddersfield six points further back and boasting a game in hand.

Newcastle’s stutter has coincided with Brighton winning two of their three matches since losing to Benitez’s side and their creative forward Anthony Knockaert – who was targeted by the league leaders last summer – insists the Seagulls are going nowhere.

Knockaert said: “It’s just what we are about. Those two games that we lost hurt us, especially the Newcastle one, because I think we deserved to win that game and we conceded two goals in the last few minutes. It was important to respond positively.

“We were just thinking to keep going and win as soon as possible. We had a good team performance against Rotherham.

“When I’m losing a game I’m fuming. We want to react quickly and put things right again. It’s good to have this desire to win every game and it helps us for the promotion race.”

Newcastle midfielder Mohamed Diame, meanwhile, will not be heading away duty with his country after he announced his international retirement.

The 29-year-old has played 36 times for Senegal and does not think he deserves his place any longer so has called it a day.

Diame said: “I believe that there are now 23 Senegalese players in better shape. After much thought and consideration I feel that now is the appropriate time to focus fully on my club career.”