Alan Pardew: No pressure from Newcastle United board – just help

Alan Pardew has seen his side slump since signing a new deal (PA)

Alan Pardew has spoken warmly of the boardroom support he has received during the most difficult run of results since he has been in charge at Newcastle.

Pardew leads his side out against Wigan at St James' Park no Monday night having lost four successive Premier League games. It is the worst run Newcastle have endured at this level since 2008. They have never lost five Premier League games in a row, but Pardew has welcomed the offer of help from those in control at the club.

"They've given me massive support this week in trying to help me get the result I want, almost asking me what can they do for me," he revealed. "At the minute there's not much they can do if truth be known. Little things here and there we talked about could help but they've been very forthcoming in that.

"I don't think demanding is the word, the word from the boardroom is concern. We want to get going again and obviously to do well.

"Unfortunately we've had a real turn of events in terms of injuries. I can't think of a Premier League side in the last couple of years that has suffered as badly as we have in terms of [losing] key players. People are asking me about the window and what am I going to do in the window, but you could argue we're weak in every position through injury.

"In my view, the January window isn't something we can focus on at the minute. We have to keep our eye on every position and make sure that in January we react to who we get back because one or two will come back, for sure. Hatem [Ben Arfa] will be back by then, [Gabriel] Obertan will be back; Shola [Ameobi] will be back this weekend. I expect that when we go to Fulham I'll be in a lot stronger state than I am for Wigan and then we'll react from that."

Odds: Newcastle Evens Draw 12-5 Wigan 3-1

Kick-off 8pm (Sky Sports 1; h/l SS2, 1am, Tues)

Referee M Jones (Cheshire)