RAFA BENITEZ is in no rush to reopen transfer talks at Newcastle United until he has successfully guided the club to safety in the Premier League.

Benitez will be interested in committing to new terms in the not-too-distant future provided he has had assurances he will be given the backing required to turn the Magpies into a top eight team.

But such discussions are only worth seriously having once Newcastle have guaranteed what division they will be playing in next season.

Benitez hopes Newcastle’s trip to Spain, which they returned from after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with CSKA Moscow, can have the desired effect in helping to achieve before the end of the campaign.

Newcastle are on the same 25-point total after 26 games that they had last season when they went on a run to avoid relegation with a month to spare, as well as finish tenth.

Ideally that is what he wants to see from his squad again following the break in Spain, even if there is a greater gap this time to reach tenth spot.

As well as getting things right on the pitch, Benitez wants to hear from owner Mike Ashley what transfer budget will be available in the summer and whether there will be investment in the club’s infrastructure, like the training ground.

Benitez certainly feels the trip to La Finca, near Murcia, was a success having watched new signings Miguel Almiron and Antonio Barreca settle into life with their new team-mates.

Both players got 45 minutes in the 1-1 with CSKA on Saturday, when Salomon Rondon scored for Newcastle. Almiron will be in contention for the date with Huddersfield this weekend, while Barreca impressed to show he can compete with Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie for the left wing-back role.

“It was a good game,” said Benitez. “After five days with double training sessions it was good to give everyone 45 minutes. You could see the tempo was good.

“I am happy with a lot of things but I think we could have won the game. We had a lot of chances. Overall it is a positive because the new players Barreca and Almiron know the players around them.”