Joe Kinnear has laughed off reports that he turned up to work at Newcastle United on Monday without any players.

Kinnear said: "What's all the fuss about?

"After Saturday's game, we all sat down and decided to give the players a day off on Monday for a variety of reasons.

"One is the fact that we are not playing until Sunday this week.

"And then it gave me the chance to go into the training ground yesterday and have a long chat with all my coaching and backroom staff.

"As a result, I knew all I had to know when the players came in today."