Rafa Benitez reveals what Islam Slimani told him after he was banned for three games at Newcastle

The striker, signed on loan from Leicester City, is suspended for the last three games of the season after kicking out at Craig Dawson in last weekend's 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Slimani's ban takes him to the end of his loan at the club.

And United manager Benitez asked if Slimani wanted to return to Leicester for the final week and a half of the season.

“I was talking with him and he said he wanted to stay and train," said Benitez. "He will stay with us, but when you have two games in a week, the training sessions are not hard. I will talk to him next week, but he said he wanted to stay and train."

Slimani has made one start and three substitute's appearances for Newcastle, who are 10th in the table ahead of tomorrow's game against 13th-placed Waford.

Meanwhile, Benitez will make at least two changes at Vicarage Road.

"We will make some changes and keep everybody on their toes," said Benitez. "We'll make, maybe, a couple of changes."

Benitez will to be without injured pair Ciaran Clark and Christian Atsu.