Ben Arfa boost for Newcastle

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has revealed Hatem Ben Arfa could return from injury before the end of the season.

After 12 weeks out, the Frenchman returned to action earlier this month in the first leg of United's Europa League last-16 tie with Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, but lasted only 64 minutes after being forced off with a hamstring injury.

The former Marseille winger was then ruled out for the rest of the season, but having returned to France to work on his fitness, Pardew has revealed he may be back to action sooner than planned.

Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle, Pardew said: "We're getting more optimistic he could be involved again before the end of the season."

Pardew has previously insisted he will not take any risks with Ben Arfa but it would be a major boost for Newcastle if he can return for the run-in as he is a player who the manager feels brings a different dimension to the team.

"He's a massive player at this level. He's our Suarez - he's that different player, someone who in a tight game can create something out of nothing," Pardew said last month.

"He's a fantastic player, tremendous technique and a great mentality to be one of the best players in the world.



"That's what he wants to be. That's his target and all I am trying to do is drive him towards that goal."

Pardew blasts horror tackle

Alan Pardew struggled to contain his anger at Callum McManaman's "awful" tackle on Massadio Haidara in Newcastle's 2-1 defeat at Wigan.

Latics forward McManaman, on his first Premier League start, caused outrage with a reckless knee-high challenge on Haidara, who was reported to be in too much pain to have the injury assessed after the game.

The Newcastle boss later revealed that referee Mark Halsey, who did not even book McManaman, had apologised at half-time for missing the challenge.

Pardew's annoyance was compounded in the final minute when Arouna Kone slotted in the winner after a goalmouth scramble, with the Newcastle players all appealing for handball on Maynor Figueroa.

"It is an awful challenge. The pictures speak for themselves," said Pardew. "I thought it was a bad challenge and I was 60 yards from the incident.

"The players knew because they were on top of it and there was a lot of bad feeling about that incident when it goes unpunished. He (Halsey) said 'If I've missed it I apologise' - that was at half-time.

"My job was to calm the players at half-time, not go looking for retribution, and try to win the second half - which to all intents and purposes we did.

"But again there's a decision at the end where we should have had a corner, it goes up the other end and there's a handball - that is tough to take."

When asked about the extent of Haidara's injury, Pardew added: "The doctor assessed him quickly before he was scuttled away to be assessed later.

"It looks like knee ligaments and bad bruising and that's the best we can hope for."

The Newcastle boss also has concerns over full-back Mathieu Debuchy who limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Haidara.



"We will send him to France (for this week's international duty) for them to assess him but we think he will be on his way back," he said. "We don't think it is a particularly bad tear - a strain hopefully."

Pardew hits out at Chelsea owner

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has blasted Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for sacking Roberto Di Matteo.



Di Matteo was dumped as Chelsea manager after the 3-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus on Tuesday.



Abramovich is now looking for the London club's ninth manager in nine years, with Chelsea's passage through to the knock-out stages no longer in their own hands.



Pardew was in disbelief about the sacking and believed football fans would feel the same way.



"Astonished really. It just goes to show you how precarious we are as Premier League managers and you can't take anything for granted," Pardew said.



"The shock that should be there from the fans and the media should sound something to the owner of that football club (Roman Abramovich).



"I don't know if that's their ninth manager or whatever it is in so many short years, it's just not fair."



Pardew stood by Di Matteo and believes the club should have too, citing the Italian's Champions League and FA Cup victories last season.



"As far as I'm concerned he (Roberto Di Matteo) has done absolutely nothing wrong. The philosophy was to change the look of the team which he's tried to do and he's won two competitions in less than a year, so it's unbelievable," he said.



Meanwhile, Pardew said midfielder Yohan Cabaye requires surgery on a groin injury sustained against West Ham on November 11.



The 26-year-old limped off at the end of the clash and subsequently missed the 2-1 home defeat to Swansea on Saturday.



And Pardew is rueing the loss of the France international as his side bid to overcome their sluggish start to the Premier League season.



"(Cabaye) will definitely have an operation, and we think it's going to be on Friday or Monday, I'm not sure. That's a blow to us because he's a top player for us," he told reporters.



Pardew also expressed concern over Shola Ameobi's fitness ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash with Maritimo.



He added: "The only one we are a little bit concerned about is Shola. He's got a slight groin niggle, so we are going to have to see how he shapes up for Thursday's game."

Pardew hails new sponsorship deal

Alan Pardew believes that Newcastle United's new sponsorship deal is 'a no-lose situation' for the Premier League club.



The Magpies announced a lucrative new four-year commercial funding agreement with Wonga on Tuesday, which will see the digital finance company become the club's shirt sponsor from the beginning of the 2013-14 season.



In addition, Wonga has also purchased the naming rights to the club's stadium, bringing an end to its short-lived and controversial period as the Sports Direct Arena, with it reverting back to St James' Park, and will provide investment into both the first-team squad as well as the club's youth infrastructure.



"Wonga have taken over the stadium naming rights and handed it back to us - and I include myself in that. It's St James' Park again. Our fans must be as delighted as I am," Pardew told the club's official website.



"Wonga like football, want to see their company involved in it and be useful to the club and I think that's good.



"A lot of sponsors just put their money in and walk away, just happy to have their name on you as an advertising board. But this company want more than that, they want to get involved and I think that's a good thing.



"It gives me extra funds for the first-team, puts St James' Park back on as our stadium name, and helps develop the Academy.



"So for me, it is a no-lose situation - I am very pleased."



The Tyneside club's new sponsorship deal comes soon after the 51-year-old and his senior coaching staff signed eight-year contracts with the club and Pardew believes that the increased stability provided by the two separate deals will afford the club a positive future.



"It's important that the stability of the club is being looked at," he said.



"We've sponsors for the next four years - it's the best deal we've ever made in terms of sponsorship - and that bodes well for going forward.



"After the disappointment of Manchester United on Sunday, this is some good news for us."

Pardew fined, banned for shove

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been given a two-match touchline ban and a 20,000 pounds fine for improper conduct.



The charge related to an incident during Newcastle's Premier League win over Tottenham on the opening day of the season in which the 51-year-old pushed assistant referee Peter Kirkup.



The referee during the game, Martin Atkinson, missed the altercation but the FA followed up with a charge and now, after an independent investigation, have taken action by issuing the ban and the fine.



A statement on the FA's official website reads: "Following an Independent Regulatory Commission held today (Monday 3 September 2012), Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been given a two match touchline suspension and fined 20,000 pounds after he accepted an FA charge of improper conduct.



"Pardew, who requested a personal hearing, was charged following an incident which occurred during his side's match against Tottenham Hotspur on 18 August 2012.



"The suspension will take place with immediate effect."



Pardew did apologise for his actions after the fixture, publicly admitting that what he did was 'ridiculous' and 'stupid', before indicating that he also had private words with the officials after the game.



With the ban coming into force straight away he will be forced to watch from the stands for the trip to Everton after the international break, on September 17, as well as delegate first-team duties to his assistant for the home tie with Norwich on September 22.