AFTER collecting a seventh manager of the month award in English football, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has outlined how he expects certain standards to be reached week in and week out to achieve his targets.

The Magpies are just three points above the relegation zone again after slipping to a second home defeat in a row against Wolves last Sunday - a position which has led to the players' Christmas party in London being shelved for the second year in a row.

That reversal has increased the importance of today’s trip to Huddersfield Town.

The Terriers are the team occupying the third and final spot in the relegation zone and David Wagner’s side will be looking at the visit of Newcastle as an opportunity to climb out of the bottom three.

After 16 matches Benitez would have preferred Newcastle to have been higher in the table, but he knows a few disappointing transfer windows have left his squad short of the quality in depth he would have preferred.

“I don’t spend too much time watching the league table, because I think it’s wrong,” said Benitez. “We know that we need 38 or 26 points, whatever, this year, and we know we have some games that we can win, and maybe some that we cannot.

“What I did last year - to be fair, when I was in Valencia competing for the league, I said the same - it’s just one game at a time. That is the key.

“If everybody watches the table, and everybody says: ‘If this team wins this one, and that team loses that one.’ It doesn’t change too much for you, and then you waste time and energy, so I prefer to concentrate on the game. That’s it - and try to get results.

“To be sure this is where I expected us to be. I don’t want you to write anything where it’s: ‘Oh, Rafa is saying this and that.’ The half-bottom of the table is the half-bottom of the table.

“We need to win against these teams around us at the bottom, but we need to be realistic, too. If we play against the top teams and do everything perfect, then maybe we can win against the top six. But everything has to be perfect, or they have to have a really bad day.

“Against the other teams, we have to compete against them, try to do things right, and then we have chances to win. You can do the best game that you can play, and still you can lose against Manchester City or Liverpool. But you can play badly against Watford or someone and still win.”

Benitez describes every game as a “cup final” but does not think the trip to Huddersfield carries any greater significance than, say, last week’s visit of Wolves or the date with Fulham at St James’ Park next Saturday.

He is acutely aware of how important it is for Newcastle to maintain recent improvements, having failed to win any of their last three games since collecting nine points from nine in November; form which earned him manager of the month.

“I have five in the Premier League now, and maybe a couple of them in the Championship, too,” he said. “It’s always good news, but what I said that this month - November - was always going to be important and we won three games.

“But would I prefer it to be December because there’s seven games? Maybe because it would mean more movement, but I am pleased.

“It’s always good news for everyone, and obviously the players. It’s fine, the only thing is it won’t make any difference in terms of our approach to Huddersfield.

“It’s not making a great difference to me. I would like to win the manager of the month award this month, the next month and the next month - but that’s because the team is winning.

“That’s my priority, nothing else. I just have to make sure the team is getting points, that’s it. The other things, it doesn’t change too much.”

Last season Newcastle’s players cancelled their Christmas party after a poor run of form and this time around they have done exactly the same, as they were set to travel to the capital after today's game.

He said: "This group of players, last year they cancelled the party because they knew and they realised it was not the right thing to do. And this year, it has been exactly the same.

"When I was talking to Jamaal, I said, 'If something is wrong, you have to realise'.

"I think he was quite sensible. They wanted to do it because it is a tradition for some players, especially in England.

"But I think they have been quite good and I think that the fans will appreciate that they are just focused on that.

"Hopefully we will not lose tomorrow, touch wood. If everything is right, fine, still they will not do anything - or at least not that I know! And if something is wrong, still it is the same. They are quite responsible."

Defender Federico Fernandez and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey have been ruled out of the Huddersfield test. Fernandez took a knock to his calf in the defeat to Wolves and has received treatment this week, while Shelvey has been to Barcelona to have his thigh injury checked out by a specialist.

Benitez, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said: “DeAndre Yedlin is suspended, Fernandez has a knock and is progressing well but is not available.

“Karl Darlow has a problem hopefully he will be fully fit next week. Shelvey is the other one, we will see how he does after ten days. Florian Lejeune is getting closer, but not this game.”