Source: PA
Pardew has faith in Magpies
Alan Pardew is confident his Newcastle side can secure its Barclays Premier League status without Andy Carroll.
The Magpies head for Fulham looking to maintain an unbeaten start to their league campaign this calendar year which has brought them eight points from four games to date in 2011, significantly without the injured 22-year-old.
However, they did so still reeling from Carroll's £35million departure for Liverpool during the final hours of the winter transfer window and with their fans wondering just how much of a gamble that decision represents.
Pardew acknowledges the loss of a man he had maintained would not be leaving the club in January from the early days of his reign has come as a blow, not least to fans who have expressed their anger and dismay in the last 24 hours. But he is confident Carroll's absence will not dash the club's hopes of an extended stay in the top flight.
He said: "My message is that we have to now push on and get the strongest finish we can with the team we have. It's obviously a blow to lose one or our star players, but the fee is extraordinary for a 22-year-old and it will be invested back into the club. That's the message they [the fans] need to hear.
"Unfortunately for me sitting here today, I can't invest any of it until the summer. Yes, I am confident, I am confident in the group that they can get themselves together and by the time we get to Wednesday's game, I hope we are ready to show that."
