Cabaye absence frustrates Pardew

19 July 2011 14:30

Boss Alan Pardew has admitted his frustration at midfielder Yohan Cabaye's absence from Newcastle's US tour.

It was revealed on Monday that the 25-year-old Frenchman had become the third Magpies player after Joey Barton and Nile Ranger to be refused an entry visa, in his case because of a minor technical issue rather than a criminal record.

That issue has since been resolved, but not soon enough for a fresh application to be processed. Pardew, speaking in Kansas, told the Evening Chronicle: "We have already had word back that he will eventually get a visa, but it doesn't help us, because we need it now. It's a three-week process."

Cabaye will now join Barton and Ranger in Peter Beardsley's development squad, which heads for Holland on Wednesday.

"It's one of those situations, but for us, it became very frustrating," added Pardew. "There was no talking them around, and unfortunately the process was too long for us to rectify it."

Rather than playing alongside his new senior team-mates against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday and then Orlando City and Columbus Crew, Cabaye will go through his paces in the second-string squad which faces Hollandia, FC Utrecht and Almere City.

He and Barton will link up with the first team on their return to Tyneside, although Ranger's future, along with that of winger Wayne Routledge, who remains in Swansea's sights, is less certain.

Like Ranger, fellow striker Leon Best has been told he can leave the club this summer, but the Republic of Ireland international is determined to prove he has a role to play alongside new acquisition Demba Ba with Pardew still on the hunt for another frontman.

Best, who is in America, said: "I have been in this position time and time again. I have got to look back at last season for confidence. I think people know I can do it in the Premier League now, and it's about fighting for my position.

"There's a new striker in who I already get on very well with, and I would be delighted to play alongside him, or fight him for a place. Competition for places brings the best out of a team - I have always believed that."

Source: PA