• Premier League

Pardew confident of Ba stay

ESPN staff
July 12, 2012
Alan Pardew feels Demba Ba is happy at Newcastle © Getty Images
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Alan Pardew is confident Demba Ba will not seek a move away from Newcastle United this summer.

Ba, 27, enjoyed a brilliant start to his debut season at Newcastle after he joined the club on a free transfer, going on to score 16 goals in 34 Premier League appearances - although his form dipped in the second half of the season

His impressive goalscoring form has led to suggestions of growing interest in his signature, with Galatasaray the latest club to be mentioned, but Pardew is sure he is happy on Tyneside.

"I've not seen any sign from Demba that he wants to leave," Pardew said in the Northern Echo. "He's actually training very, very well and looking good, that doesn't suggest he wants another club. I don't sense that."

Ba played second fiddle to Papiss Cisse in the second half of the season, but Pardew expects to deploy the forward in his preferred role in the new campaign.

Pardew said: "He has not stressed to me he wants to move to pastures new. He has said to me he wants some reassurance from me he wants a more striking role this season and I think he will.

"He played a couple of roles that were unorthodox for me last season to help the team, that's the sort of person he is. He wants to play through the middle and score goals, that's what he does best."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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