Pardew 'on guard for the fans' as Cabaye decision set to go down to the wire



N ewcastle United manager Alan Pardew wants a quick solution to Yohan Cabaye’s future, to avoid another last-minute rush for a replacement.

After the France international appeared to an intriguing mixture of boos and applause as a substitute in Saturday’s win over Fulham, Pardew is still hopeful Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and director of football Joe Kinnear will not succumb to a late improved bid from Arsenal.

Their original £10million offer was turned down, prompting Cabaye effectively to go on strike for three games.

Stay or go? Yohan Cabaye after coming on as a substitute for Newcastle against Fulham

He returned as a substitute on Saturday after Pardew pleaded with him to play and his appearance provoked a confused response from Newcastle fans who want him to stay but fail to sympathise with his stance. Some must have been tempted to clap and jeer at the same time.

And now we all wait to see if he will still be a Newcastle player after 11pm on Monday.

‘I will be spending Monday on my guard. I guess that’s the best way to put it,’ Pardew said. ‘I will be on my guard for the fans.

‘The decision is with us. We will make the decision on what we think is right.’

Throughout the saga, Pardew has been naturally eager to protect Cabaye if he does stay at St James’ Park and he is hoping the fans’ understandable reaction is a necessary first step in the healing process. He just hopes it continues after Monday.

Until then, he is powerless to prevent the sale of another vital player if Arsenal do match his boss’s £20m valuation.

St James' Park: Cabaye challenging Dimitar Berbatov in Newcastle's 1-0 victory

Having experienced the unavoidable sale of Andy Carroll within hours of the close of business two years ago, Pardew just hopes Newcastle have time to sign an alternative in the worst case scenario.

He said: ‘It was important to get Yohan out there, it will make it easier to move on although there is a lot of talking to be done between now and Aston Villa.

‘We need to speak with Yohan and with his representatives to make sure that we go forward hand-in-hand.

‘The guy has a World Cup at the end of the year and he is a big part of France’s plans. He hasn’t been picked this week and I think that was a bit of a shock to him. It was only because of the situation because I think he’s nailed on in their team.

‘We can’t afford to replace him before he goes because we’re not sure that he is going to go so that bid needs to come in quickly if it’s coming in at all. If not, it won’t happen. Or at least I think it won’t happen — you can never tell at this football club.

Arms aloft: Alan Pardew celebrating Newcastle'slate winner from Hatem Ben Arfa

‘We’ve got replacements in mind but we need to act quickly if that bid comes in. We still hope to get an offensive player in before 11pm and we’re working towards that.’

While Cabaye’s future remains uncertain, at least that of Hatem Ben Arfa seems sorted.

Scorer of a sublime goal from nothing — dismissing Martin Jol’s disapproval of his side’s defending — Ben Arfa is getting back to his magical best.

His attitude to another summer of off-field turmoil and unrest is typical of a squad which overpowered Fulham with the introduction of Cabaye, who put in a brave performance, and, at last, Loic Remy.

‘I try to score a special goal in every game,’ said Ben Arfa. `Against West Ham I tried a lot but they all ended up in the sky.

‘I have been practising more with my left and I have two weeks now to work on my right. If you want to improve you have to work hard every day.

‘It is fine for the fans to have doubts but the players cannot have doubts. If we start thinking too much and having doubts you end up down and don’t hit your best form. We do not doubt, we just try and try.