RAFA BENITEZ and Salomon Rondon have a mutual agreement that Newcastle United should focus on finishing the season with a flourish rather than think about his future.

Rondon’s future is a hot topic with the end of his loan nearing when the season is over, having proven his worth to the Magpies with ten goals in the bid to stay up this season.

The Venezuelan has enjoyed his time at St James’ Park and Newcastle would find it hard to replace him with as much quality and strength as he has provided.

But West Brom want around £16.5m for Rondon and that is what Newcastle will have to come up with if they are to secure him permanently, while the likes of West Ham United are considering a summer move too.

But Benitez, speaking at his pre-match press conference today, said: “We knew him before. We knew he could be fine for the way we wanted to play. I was pleased with him and I have been talking to him about what he is thinking, he is clear on wanting to score goals.

“I have talked with him about football, I asked him about what was going on. We had the same message, it is to carry on scoring goals. If he scores goals it will be easier for him. It is better for him not to think about the future and just to score goals.”

Rondon is expected to stay in the side at Arsenal on Monday when Newcastle do not expect any fresh injury concerns, with Sean Longstaff the only definite absentee.

Defender Fabian Schar will be monitored over the next few days after a week when he has been in the spotlight for being allowed to carry on playing during Switzerland’s game with Georgia even though he was left unconscious after colliding with Jemal Tabidze. Schar is suspended anyway for the trip to Arsenal.

Benitez said: “We take these things serious, so we try to do what we have to do. He had the test over there and another here. He is OK, so I will not create something important out of that. We try to do the right things.

“We try to control these things if we can. I was in contact with him after, we joked today a bit. He passed the test with the doctor. It is important not to say too much, we did it and that’s it.”

On the overall injury front, he said: “The international break is quite complicated for us, you can see a lot of injuries, players are tired.

“I can say we have knocks, little things. Longstaff is the only one with an injury. Schar has had a test this morning and he is fine.

“Today I think the knocks we have will be fine. Atsu, Yedlin, Almiron, we think will be fine but we will check.

“In America they came back Thursday evening, so it is difficult to get them ready for Saturday but this time we play Monday. Everyone has been training apart from Longstaff.”