Source: FOOTYMAD
Pardew Another Step Closer To Arsenal Fixture
Alan Pardew says all the pre-season build up is in readiness for the visit of mighty Arsenal in two weeks. The team against Leeds will give us more clues who is in line to face the Gunners. John Carver: “When you’re planning pre-season you’re looking for progress with every game; this certainly gives us the perfect build-up following the trip to America. “A game at Elland Road with a great home crowd, a decent away following and good opposition will be a real test and – although it’s up to the manager – I’m sure you’ll see a team that is closer to the one that starts against Arsenal. “We’ve got a few important players coming back in. Yohan Cabaye trained with the reserves on Friday, as did Ryan Taylor and Joey Barton, Mike Williamson, Danny Simpson and James Perch will all be back too. “The only real absences will be Cheick Tiote, who is sorting out his visa in Ghana, Hatem (Ben Arfa), Shane Ferguson and Danny Guthrie. “I think you’ll probably get more of an idea of where we are in pre-season after this game. It’s a perfect test for us really.”
