Albion boss Gus Poyet insists he will not fall out with Elliott Bennett after his star player handed in a transfer request.

He says it will have no impact on whether or not Norwich target Bennett plays for the League One leaders in today’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Watford.

It is business as usual for Poyet after Bennett handed in a transfer request on Thursday afternoon.

Albion have already rejected a bid from Norwich for the versatile winger and chairman Tony Bloom reiterated Bennett is going nowhere in a brief statement yesterday morning.

Bloom said: “Nothing has changed. We do not want to sell Elliott, we don’t need to sell the player.”

Bennett trained as normal with the rest of the squad, then joined them on the coach journey to Hertfordshire in preparation for today’s clash at Vicarage Road.

Poyet told The Argus last night: “Nothing has changed for me. I am not going to change my position or relationship with Benno. It’s exactly the same situation as yesterday afternoon when he put the transfer request in.

“If he is going to play he is going to play and if he is not going to play he is not going to play. It won’t be because of what is happening.

“It was a normal day. The players knew and there were a few jokes and things but we trained as normal and picked him up at Hickstead as usual.

“Of course, he is uncomfortable I suppose, because it’s not a situation any footballer is used to being in, especially a character like Benno.

“For me as the manager it’s a dream situation, because you are keeping your best player. I think we have made it quite clear, he is going to stay.”

Norwich, chasing promotion to the Premier League, have until 11pm on Monday when the transfer window closes to try to alter Albion’s stance. Boss Paul Lambert said: “We’ve made an inquiry and that’s where it is at the minute. Brighton said what they said so we’ll have to wait and see what happens over the next few days. I haven’t heard anything.

“There are one or two other calls I’ve made but they’re not stone cold certainties either. If it doesn’t happen I’ve got a brilliant group of lads who are playing really, really well at the minute and we’re doing really fine.”

Burnley are also monitoring Bennett’s situation, according to sources in Lancashire, although Poyet said: “We heard a rumour last week about QPR but nothing else. The only bid we’ve had was from Norwich.”

Bennett, 22, signed a new three-and-a-half year contract in November. He has scored 13 goals in 78 games for Albion and has played a key role in their four-month stay at the top of the table with 20 assists this season following a £200,000 move from Wolves in August 2009.

Wolves are understood to have included a significant sell-on clause in the deal of around 20 per cent.

Bennett was unavailable for comment when The Argus tried to contact him last night.

Meanwhile, Poyet is in no hurry to make a decision on Argentinian trialist Emmanuel Ledesma.

The 22-year-old former QPR and Genoa midfielder made a goalscoring debut in the reserves against Wycombe Wanderers on Wednesday night.

Poyet said: “I am going to take my time. He is a free agent, so I am not going to rush and say yes or no.

“He did well in the reserves but we are going to check on him. We are going to take at least a week.”