Source: Northern_Echo
Pardew keen on the style of a Bentley
NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew is close to completing his second signing of the January transfer window but admitted the deal was proving difficult to nail down.[LNB] Pardew confirmed the Magpies had made an inquiry for a player yesterday morning and were waiting for a response, but the manager still hopes the deal can be finalised before the weekend.[LNB] With star striker Andy Carroll out with a thigh injury, the Magpies boss is keen to bolster his attacking options and is still understood to be interested in Tottenham's Robbie Keane, with Liverpool's David N'Gog also a possible target.[LNB] Pardew also admitted he was interesting in bringing David Bentley to Tyneside, but revealed the inquiry he made on Thursday was not for the Spurs midfielder, who is also the subject of sustained interest from Birmingham City.[LNB] After making Hatem Ben Arfa's loan move from Marseille permanent on Tuesday, Pardew revealed it is proving difficult to negotiate loan deals and admitted buying could be a better option.[LNB] I think that's something we're weighing up because loaning players from the Premier League isn't easy, said the Magpies manager.[LNB] There's loan fees attached in certain situations and you have to weigh up if it's better to go for a buy. I think that's where we are.[LNB] I want a player, our board want a player, but that doesn't mean the other club wants to sell. That's what we're facing.[LNB] In some ways, you don't know if the result yesterday was a good thing or a bad thing. There's a sort of clue thrown in there.[LNB] Bentley is the type of player we're looking to because I don't think you need to be a genius to know crosses can play a big part for us this season.[LNB] We want players. I still think the squad's short. Even outside of Leon's (Best) performance, we'd still have taken one.[LNB] The injuries we got last night made it even more urgent.[LNB] That's why I'm keeping the press brief short today, because I want to get away and see how we're getting on.[LNB] The Magpies boss also revealed he has sent Carroll on holiday for a week to try to help the 21-year-old recover from his thigh injury.[LNB] With rivals Sunderland next up for the Tynesiders in the Premier League, Pardew is hoping Carroll can recover in time but admitted the striker's chances of being fit for the derby were still 50-50.[LNB] I've sent Andy away. He's had a tough season so I've sent him away to get some sun,[LNB] the former West Ham boss revealed.[LNB] He's going to come back next Wednesday and we're going to assess him. It's total rest.[LNB] We're going to hope when we do a fitness test for him next Thursday he's going to be okay for the derby.[LNB] It's an injury that's difficult to judge because it's just a small tear in his thigh but it's a big muscle. Striking balls is a big problem.[LNB] He's walking and getting around feeling no problem but it's when he starts kicking it will cause him a problem. We won't know his chances until next Thursday.[LNB] Stevenage are next up for the Magpies tomorrow and Pardew has already confirmed he won't risk Cheik Tiote for the FA Cup tie, after the midfielder tweaked a hamstring in the 5-0 win over West Ham.[LNB] Steve Harper will also miss out with his wife due to give birth at the weekend, meaning Tim Krul will return to first-team action, while Steven Taylor is also doubtful with a hamstring injury.[LNB] That could mean a return to the starting line-up for Mike Williamson, and the defender insists the players are focused on wining every game, no matter who their opponents are.[LNB] When new managers come in they try and put their influence on things.[LNB] One thing the manager's trying to do, as was Chris Hughton, is breed a winning mentality whatever the game in training or five-a-sides and taking it on to Saturday,[LNB] said Williamson.[LNB] You train like you play.[LNB] Saturday's no different, we want to get through to the next round and we want to put a good display on.[LNB] We know we've got a massive game and we want to go through to the next round.[LNB] We've got a massive game coming up the following weekend and we want confidence to keep on going.[LNB]
