Pardew wary of talk of possible top-five finish

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is focusing on a bid for European football but concedes it will be a difficult challenge.

The St James’ Park outfit achieved a fifth-place finish in the 2011-12 season, but failed to match that achievement last term after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

But Pardew feels that with the addition of loan-signing Loic Remy, as well as January recruits Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran, give Newcastle a stronger squad than the one that achieved European qualification.

“When you look at the teams now and the money that’s being spent, it’s going to be difficult replicating that fifth-place finish,” Pardew told The Northern Echo.

“But our ambition must be to try to do that.

“Demba (Ba) went to Chelsea, and that was a big blow for us last year. Once I replace Demba, I think this team is stronger than the one that finished fifth.

“But I think the task of finishing in the top five is more difficult because of the growth of some of the clubs who were just below us. In particular, Liverpool and Spurs have spent a lot of money.

“Even though my team might be slightly stronger on paper- team and squad – it’ll be even more difficult to get fifth.”