Rafa Benitez is set to miss Newcastle’s trip to Swansea after being ordered to rest.
The Newcastle boss has not taken training all week, and yesterday cancelled his weekly press conference due to be held on Friday.
Benitez was due to face some difficult questions about Newcastle’s deadline day transfer blank, which he was understood to be unhappy with.
But an operation to clear up an old hernia wound has left him with an infection.
He has hoped to make it to Tyneside from his Wirral home on Thursday, but was in pain.
He has been advised to rest for a week, and leave his staff in charge, with fitness coach Francisco de Miguel Moreno taking media duties.
Benitez will make a late decision on being in the dug out for Sunday’s televised game. The medical drama has heightened the mood of unease about Benitez’s future.
He is top of West Ham’s wanted list should Slaven Bilic be sacked.
His frustration at the summer transfer dealings, in which £40m was spent, has been brewing – but he has yet to give his verdict in public at landing no new faces last week.
Owner Mike Ashley sent his key staff to see Benitez after the win against West Ham two weeks ago, to order and end to the sniping.
