Pardew plans for bright future

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p...stle-pardew-planning-for-a-bright-future.html


Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has revealed that the club are making good progress in their plans for next season. With seven points separating the Magpies from the relegation places and only four games left to play it is fairly safe to assume they will still be in the top flight next season. This may allow Newcastle to get ahead of some of their rivals before the start of the next campaign. Already Pardew has discussed with the club’s powerbrokers the budget for the next transfer window. With the money from the Andy Carroll deal yet to be spent the Magpies may be one of the major players in the summer off-season.

In terms of player recruitment it is believed a number of targets have been identified with the Dutch and French leagues receiving special attention from the club’s scouting team. According to reports in the local press, Lorient’s Kevin Gameiro and Toulouse’s Cheikh M’Bengue have been the subject of enquiries about their availability.


Away from the field of play, work has already begun on installing undersoil heating at the club’s training ground. Over the course of the previous winters the players have been forced to train indoors for long spells due to the north east’s cold climate. All of this points to a more stable and organised summer than in recent years.

Meanwhile, goalscoring midfielder Kevin Nolan should be fit for the weekend despite suffering a ‘niggle’ against Blackpool. The club captain was not at his best in the 1-1 draw and was subbed late on as a precaution. Nolan will be desperate to play this Sunday in a clash that sees him return to his home city of Liverpool. It remains to be seen if former Magpie Andy Carroll will feature as the 22-year-old has been struggling with a knee problem. As Carroll’s former housemate and close friend, Nolan has more reason than most to relish an encounter with the £35 million man.

Another player looking forward to a potential reunion with Carroll is his former strike partner Shola Ameobi. Newcastle do not have the best of records at Anfield and have not recorded a win there since 1994. Ameobi said: ”With Carroll or without Carroll I'm looking forward to it. It's a game that historically hasn't been great for us but I think we're trying to turn tides here on Tyneside. Hopefully we can get another massive result. We beat them at our place earlier in the season so it's not impossible.”

Another target for Ameobi is to finish above local rivals Sunderland at the end of the season. Currently only goal difference separates the two sides who now have little other than local pride to play for. Ameobi has enjoyed playing Sunderland this campaign with two goals in two games, including a brace in the 5-1 win at St James’ Park.