Some newspaper reporters claim the Senegal international (who has not scored in his last nine games) has not been the same player following his ill-fated trip to the African Nations Cup.
But, since the signing of compatriot Papiss Cisse, Ba has not occupied the same position he did earlier in the season and has spent a lot of time wide on the left (something he is struggling to get used to).
But Alan Pardew is confident Ba will rediscover his touch in front of goal.
Alan Pardew: "The first goal at West Brom, Demba must have been a centimetre away from scoring, and when Cisse scored the second goal, he was actually fouled as he was going to score and it fell to Cisse, so he has been a little bit unlucky.
"But he is on penalties, he will be in and around the free-kicks and he is working as hard as he has always worked.
"He is in great form, there's no lack of confidence. His goal will come and then this will all be forgotten.
"All players are unhappy at being replaced, but it was always my intention to play Shola (Ameobi) for either Ba or Cisse.
"One of those two was definitely coming off and on this occasion, it was Demba.
"But on another occasion, it will be Papiss, and Demba is big enough and strong enough and bold enough to deal with that.
"Hopefully against Stoke, he gets the winning goal.
"Our front line is in great form. Even Shola, who isn't getting a start at the moment, every time he comes on, he looks like he should start.
"Shola, Demba, Cisse, Ben Arfa - and you could put [Yohan] Cabaye in that group as well - they are all in really, really good form."