Pardew urges local pair to stay

(GETTY IMAGES)

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has told local boys Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor they can achieve their ambitions on Tyneside.

Pardew has spent his first fortnight on Tyneside having to deal with speculation that Carroll could be a target for the Barclays Premier League's big boys, while Taylor will be able to talk to potential purchasers next month if he does not agree a new contract.

In addition, the 49-year-old has been forced to warn clubs that midfielder Joey Barton will not be available at a knock-down price in January.

Pardew has been encouraged by what he has heard from both Carroll and Taylor in particular since his arrival at St James' Park, and is confident the Gateshead-born striker and his Tyneside-raised team-mate can thrive on familiar territory.

He said: "Andy seems to be a very level-headed guy and from what I have seen of him, he has adhered himself to the place here.

"This is his town and he is playing for a big city club. He also understands that whatever he wants to achieve in the game and the ambitions he has, he could achieve here.

"He has already got an England cap and if we progress as a team, then maybe those international caps will increase.

"He's a young player who potentially could be a really great player."

That potential was underlined by headlines at the weekend suggesting Tottenham are preparing a £20million bid with Chelsea waiting in the wings, although Newcastle insist they will not be doing business.

Pardew added: "It doesn't surprise me that some of the big clubs are looking at him.

"Having said that, he is very, very important to this football club and I am making that very, very clear to the media and to other managers if they ring me.

"No-one has rung me, though, so I am just putting it down to speculation at the moment."

Taylor's current deal is due to expire at the end of the season, and he was placed on the transfer list after several rounds of talks failed to produce any kind of agreement.

The dialogue has continued without any tangible effect so far, although the noises coming from both camps in recent days have been more positive.

Pardew said: "I am due to speak to his agent shortly to try to convince him and the player that this is the club to stay at, and the signs from what Steven has shown in training and what he has said are that he does want to stay.

"But of course, the financial package needs to be right for us and it needs to be right for Steven, and that's what we will be discussing.

"The one thing I do know is again, he is a local boy to this city. He has still got a lot of learning to do, he is only a very, very young centre-half.

"I think I can help him in that and I am hoping that resolves itself in the next week or so."

Barton has been linked with the likes of West Ham and Aston Villa amid reports he could be offloaded for as little as £1.5million.

However, Pardew said: "I don't want anyone to go. I'm quite happy with the squad.

"Maybe I would like to add an additional couple of players to push the team and just strengthen us as a group.

"But the starting XI is a strong starting XI and it would be difficult to find somebody to go in there at this time.

"I don't want to upset the balance they have and the spirit they have, so I'm doing my utmost to make sure the players we do have here want to play for Newcastle."