"?Rafa Benitez claims to have zero fears over the Newcastle future of £15m forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, despite the Serbian star's lack of first-team starts this season.
The Spanish boss was unable to save the Magpies from relegation last season, but is doing very well, so far, in his attempts at getting them back into the Premier League.
Mitrovic, though, has found opportunities hard to come by due to the form of former Crystal Palace forward Dwight Gayle. The Serbian has scored five goals for the club this season, but is likely to be on the bench when they take on Nottingham Forest on Friday night.
He has been linked with an exit. However, Benitez claims to have an understanding with the player, and insists he won't be leaving.
"We have had a conversation,"? said Benitez to the "?Shields Gazette. "He's fine, he's OK and he understands the situation. He knows that Gayle is scoring goals and it's very difficult.
"It's like with the keepers. They can see (Karl) Darlow is playing well, so they have to wait."?
Benitez aims to keep all of his squad members save Cheick Tiote, whose contract will expire at the end of the season.
"I said before that we are not thinking about selling any of these players that are not playing,"? said Benitez. "We have one name and that is Cheick Tiote. I was talking with him. I can't say 100% I will not sell these players, because you never know. At the moment, we are not thinking about selling."?