Rafa Benitez sends Islam Slimani back to Leicester ahead of Newcastle's visit to Wembley

The striker was last week suspended for the club's last three Premier League fixtures after kicking out at West Bromwich Albion's Craig Dawson.

Slimani, signed on loan from Leicester City in January, asked to stay on at the club and train while he served his ban.

However, the 29-year-old is now "free to go", according to manager Rafa Benitez, who also signed Kenedy and Martin Dubravka on loan in the January window.

“We have had three players on loan," said Benitez. "Slimani has been training today, but he's free to go now."

Kenedy, signed on loan from Chelsea, will make his final Newcastle appearance against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley tomorrow night.

"Kenedy's a player we like," said Benitez. "He's been doing very well. We have to talk to Chelsea about his future. Dubravka is the easy one. We have the option (to buy him), and it's no secret that we are happy with him."

Benitez's side have lost their last three games.

“It's a pity, because we knew we could win any of these games," said Benitez. "With more luck or less mistakes, we could have won any of them.

"The league table doesn’t lie. When you finish in one position, it's because you deserve to be there. It's where we are.

"I want to take the positives, so I would prefer to be here talking about a bad run, but knowing we are safe, rather than being on a bad run and also be worried about relegation."