Aleksandar Mitrovic could miss out on Newcastle United’s FA Cup clash at Chelsea this weekend.
The Serbian international striker has been linked with a move to Brighton this week with West Bromwich Albion also keen on his signature, while Mitrovic’s agent has also been searching for a new club for him throughout the window.
Benitez is concerned about any of his players who aren’t focused on the job in hand at Chelsea and could look at other options in attack.
Mitrovic is fit again but Benitez said ahead of the game: “Some players are thinking to leave now because they want to play or go to the World Cup or whatever.
“Everybody has their own idea and priority.
“Some of the players on the brink of leaving or to stay, they can’t be as focused as others.
“We have to choose players that we know will be really focused.
“They have to focus on the game and not have any distractions.”
“Some of them are in the newspapers every day.
“We have to make sure if we go there the players don’t have any other thoughts in their heads.”
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Image: Getty Images Europe)
Benitez could opt for a defensive strategy against the Blues in the fourth round and he believes the game against Manchester City last weekend, which United lost 3-1, is an example of how he has little choice but to approach games against the big boys in cautious manner.
He said: “Against the top sides you have to be sure you can compete.
“Maybe we can in the future but this year we are new in the Premier League and you have to be sure you can compete but not be too exposed.
“If you analyse the game against City afterwards.
“We were in the game then there was a soft penalty but then we scored and we could have scored an equaliser.
“After I changed to four in the back and tried to go more aggressive.
“Then we were exposed because of that and conceded.
“That is the risk.
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“If you are offensive and you go and attack you may score if you are lucky and put them under pressure.
“At the same time if you don’t score and they counter attack they might score three or four in just a few minutes because you lose your confidence.
“Look at Bristol City, they got back to 2-2 the other night and a minute later - boom, because City can score when they like.
“When you go high and you expose your defence the pace is there.
“Again, it’s the short blanket that we are always talking about.”