Alan Pardew: "Our players will be desperate for us to win to pay a tribute in that way. We can't guarantee that, of course, but we are going to try.
"He was a great player here and a captain of this club, and he has been a big loss to us this week.
"The training ground has been heavy, particularly the first two days, because we had a lot of staff and players who don't just remember him as a great player, but as a great person, so it has been a difficult week.
"Even today, it was a little bit low, but hopefully by the time the game comes around, we can at least prepare ourselves mentally.
"Achieving the 40 points will be the first target for us, and to get it as quickly as we can, because then you can start putting in other targets.
"I have seen many times in this Premier League teams reach 40 points and their ambition dies.
"It's very important to get that early so you have got another goal of Europe or a cup or something to really attack."
Source: FOOTYMAD
