Newcastle United boss John Carver insists he's under no pressure to freeze out Jonas Gutierrez.

Carver says he does not know the contractual clause that would guarantee a new deal, and says he will pick his team on merit.

"I've got to be honest, I genuinely don't know about anybody's contracts," Carver said when asked about Gutierrez's contract clause.

"There's the Haris Vuckic situation. I had to ask Lee the question, as I genuinely don't know about his contract. All I've been doing is working on the team and trying to put the best 11 players on the pitch that I can.

"I'm unaware of it (the clause) but I will be picking the team between now and the end of the season with that not in my mind, because I don't know what people earn and what their contracts are.

"I pick a team on what I think will be the best team on the pitch. Sometimes you can get distracted. I don't know anybody's salaries - nothing. I like it that way as I make my judgement on the week at the training ground."