Alan Pardew says Yohan Cabaye is focused on Newcastle after proposed move to Arsenal fell through

Yohan Cabaye will make his first start of the season today (AFP)

Alan Pardew insists Yohan Cabaye has “turned the corner” and will successfully resume his Newcastle United career after his proposed move to Arsenal fell through.

Cabaye declared he was not in the right state of mind to play in Newcastle’s opening fixture at Manchester City after a £10.2m offer from Arsène Wenger had been turned down. He was jeered by fans when he came on as a substitute against Fulham and was left out of the France squad for their World Cup qualifying games with Georgia and Belarus.

However Pardew, who will hand the 27-year-old his first start of the season at Aston Villa today, said: “I had a little discussion about the window shutting and about his new baby girl, and you can just tell that he’s turned a corner. Sometimes players don’t – they continue the process of wearing the disappointment. It must have been a difficult period for him as well. He would have been influenced by his agents, who obviously had a stake in the transfer. I’m not saying he was perfect in the way he handled it – I don’t think he was – but he is a very focused person. I think that has helped to turn him around.

“You can tell his eyes are firmly fixed on Newcastle and France.”