MASSADIO HAIDARA is not ready to give up on his Newcastle United career just yet after being told he will struggle to play again this season.

The French defender has only played twice for the Magpies since October 2015, both outings in the FA Cup earlier this year at Birmingham and Oxford.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has hinted that competition for places means he is unlikely to force his way into the first-team picture, with Paul Dummett settled at left-back.

That could mean Newcastle will look to move him on in the summer, with 12 months remaining on his contract.

Haidara, unlikely to be involved against Wigan this Saturday, is keen to keep going and said: "As a player you have to keep your condition - you have to be ready for the day you are needed to play for the first-team.

"You have to keep your head down and you have to make sure you work hard. It is not always easy but you have to try.

"This is the most difficult thing. One day you know you will have your chance but you will never know when.

"As a player you have to keep pushing yourself every day in training to make sure that when you are needed you are fit and ready.”

Haidara has suffered a succession of knee injuries during his time at Newcastle and has struggled to recapture his best because of a lack of football.

He said: "Mentally it can be hard. I am frustrated. Every player would be the same. I am a little bit disappointed with this season because every player wants to play in the first-team. When you are not frustrated at not playing there must be something wrong.

"But you have to make sure you use your frustration in a good way. It needs to make you want to show more.”

Modern day football has seen many managers give out of favour senior players the choice of whether to play for the Under-23s on occasions; believing they shouldn’t have to if they don’t want to.

But Haidara said: “It is good to play with the Under-23s. When you are not getting minutes with the first-team it is important to play.

"It is always good to get minutes on the pitch. It is a little bit different but that is not a bad thing.

"It is always good to play - that is what any player wants to do. It does not matter which team you play for, you always have to make sure that you give your best."