Rafael Benitez expects Demba Ba to perform against Newcastle United

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez believes that striker Demba Ba will not be affected by the prospect of returning to his former club.

The Senegal international will come face to face with Newcastle United for the first time tomorrow since leaving the Premier League outfit for Chelsea in a £7m January switch.

"He's quite confident that he can do well if he plays," Sky Sports News quotes Benitez as saying. "He's training well. He's a professional.

"He knows that some fans will not be happy, but some fans will understand the situation and he's ready to do his best for the team."

Ba scored 29 goals in 54 league matches for the Magpies before moving to Stamford Bridge.