The Magpies entertain fellow promotion challengers Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day (kick-off 7.45pm), then welcome Nottingham Forest to St. James' Park four days later, and Benitez is pleased to have two home games over the festive period.

His players will train on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will get the opportunity to spend some time with their families.

But while he cut a jovial figure at his pre-match media briefing on Friday morning, Benitez will be in no mood to hand out a belated Christmas present to Carlos Carvalhal and his Owls team on Monday.

"It's difficult at the moment, because we are doing so well, but still we can improve, we have to improve, and I am quite positive because the way the players train, I'm really pleased with that," said the United boss.

"This week, we have had the experience of visiting the hospitals and I was really impressed with our players because I have been in a lot of clubs and you go to see the children in the hospitals, and they were really, really first class, these players."

He added: "Every single game, I can see how difficult it is to win so I just concentrate on that.

"I know that Sheffield (Wednesday) are a very good team. They were in the promotion battle last year and were nearly there, and we know that they were really good in the second part of the league. So still we have 24 games to play and I want to be sure that players realise it's not job done.

"For sure, we have to approach every game trying to get three points. In April, we have seven games so a lot of points, and we have to keep going."

Benitez will be without influential midfielder Jonjo Shelvey on Boxing Day, as he starts a five-game ban after deciding not to appeal against an FA misconduct charge which was found proven against him earlier in the week.

"I said in our statement that we support him, because for me it was very confused, the situation," said the Magpies' manager. "The main thing is he knows that he has to be careful in the future and just concentrate on his football.

"We know that we will not have him for the next five games and that's it."

Benitez added: "I will tell you after five matches (how big a loss he'll be) but we have enough options. Obviously it will be different, we can not hide this, but still we have some good players and we can manage."