? May be Ba and Tiot�'s last game before Cup of Nations
? Club may send staff member to Africa to supervise pair
Alan Pardew has suggested that his Newcastle United side will adopt an attacking policy against Manchester United at St James' Park on Wednesday night, when both Demba Ba and Cheik Tiot� are hoping to sign off in style before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
With Senegal's Ba, the scorer of 14 Premier League goals this season, leading the attack and Ivory Coast's Tiot� partnering Yohan Cabaye in central midfield, Newcastle represent awkward opponents and Pardew believes they can frighten Sir Alex Ferguson's players.
"Looking at Manchester United's recent games, teams that have sat back have got thumped," said Newcastle's manager. "They've got such talent in their ranks, they're going to cause you problems but we have a striker in form and a central midfield pairing that I think is as good as theirs.
"Our back line and goalie have been resolute all year, so we're in a good position to try and attack the game. It's important to retain the ball against United, to make them work but it's also important we make sure we offer a threat."
Pardew is "seeking clarification" as to when Ba and Tiot� will actually board flights for Equitorial Guinea and Gabon but both could well be gone by Saturday morning.
With Ba needing to manage a long-standing knee condition that is probably due a short rest, and Tiot� having only recently recovered from knee-ligament damage, Pardew is anxious to be kept informed of the pair's respective training regimes and medical treatment in Africa. Moreover, he is also considering dispatching at least one member of Newcastle's staff to the tournament in order to supervise Ba and Tiot� at first hand.
"We're going to try and monitor Cheik and Demba a little bit as best we can while they're away," said Pardew. "We're trying to contact their FAs to find out exactly what they're doing and what they're not doing. We have complete confidence in their medical teams but we might send someone out there. It's something we've done in the past and we might do again now."
Newcastle's manager may shortly bid for James Tomkins, the West Ham United defender but, for the moment, he is concentrating solely on trying to undo Manchester United.
"Sir Alex knows it will be a tough game," Pardew said. "Last year he told me this was a tough place to come. I know he'll be putting his best possible side out. I know 100 per cent Rooney will play and I think Ferdinand, Smalling and Giggs will also play so, suddenly, they look a lot more balanced."
While Pardew's players are competing for Europa League qualification, Manchester United and Manchester City remain locked in a fight for the Premier League title. "I don't know who I favour really. It's so even but in terms of size and depth of squad I think United still have the upper hand over City and that might tell at the end."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/03/alan-pardew-newcastle-manchester-united
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