Benitez explains why banned loanee is staying at Newcastle

Matt Stead

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has confirmed that loan striker Islam Slimani will remain with the club despite the three-match ban which has ended his season.

The 29-year-old Leicester striker was charged after kicking out at West Brom

defender Craig Dawson following his introduction as a substitute during

last Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat at St James’ Park.

Benitez said: “I was talking with him and he said that he wanted to stay, he wanted to train, so he will be training with us until we decide it’s fine for both.

“We have two games this week, so when you have two games during the week, the training sessions are not very hard, so we will see.

“I will talk with him next week, but he told me that he wanted to stay, he wanted to train.”