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Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has denied suggestions that his side have nothing to play for as the Premier League season reaches its climax, insisting that he is aiming to overtake struggling Manchester United in the league table. Newcastle currently sit in eight place –four points and one place behind last season’s champions –and believes that finishing above Manchester United would be a “hell of an achievement.”
“Manchester United’s result cheered me up,” Pardew told reporters – referring to Sunday’s 2-2 draw with bottom side Fulham.
“It gives us a chance to try and catch them and, if we finish above Manchester United that would be a hell of an achievement for this club, regardless of anything else.”
“That’s the immediate incentive for us and then we’ll see where that takes us.”
Manchester United have struggled this season, but Pardew insists that he is only looking to overhaul them in order to finish as high up the league as possible, rather than to heap more misery upon their under-fire manager.
“I haven’t picked Manchester United out because of David, who is a big pal of mine and handling that situation very well
“It’s because they happen to be the team directly in front of us.
“But of course it would be quite a scalp to finish above them. People are saying we have no incentive [for the rest of the season] but they are insulting our professionalism. I don’t like that. As manager of Newcastle United, it irritates me. There’s always an incentive in football.”
Pardew is currently experiencing injury problems at the club, with left back Davide Santon deputising in midfield against Chelsea at the weekend and club captain Fabricio Coloccini among a number of players missing through injury. However Coloccini is likely to return within the next week, handing a big boost to the north east side.
“It’s not just Colo’s ability but everything about him,” said Pardew of the Argentinian’s imminent return.
“We’ve missed his nonchalance and the security he gives us and that calmness. You can’t put a price on that.”
