Alan Pardew has pleaded for patience towards the winger because Obertan has yet to win over the St James’ Park faithful as he struggles to find his team mates with the ball!
Pardew admits that his summer signing from Manchester United has not been the same player since he returned from a toe injury suffered after the 3-1 defeat of Stoke City.
The former France under-21 international turned in his best display at the Britannia but has struggled to consistently recreate that impact since.
Alan Pardew: “Our fans need to be patient with him as I and the staff need to be at times because we know what he can do.
“I don’t think he has been as good as he was before he came out of the side with an injury.
“He hasn’t come back as good.
“Because he is so quick the crowd think he can just beat the full-back by racing him on the outside all the time but he can’t do that, he’d be too one-dimensional.
“I think he’s only young and he’s still learning. He’s very young in term of his time playing, he’s hardly played.”
“He is yet to find the net for Newcastle.
“That’s the next step for him.
“He’s got to look like he’s going to score a goal, getting in on the far post, cutting inside and releasing shots like Jonas does for us on the other side. He has to threaten the goal (now).”
"Cabaye has been magnificent for us so far this year.
“We have come to take some of the stuff he does for granted, his passing, his switching of play and the way he manoeuvres the ball for us.
“He has played for us and France and maybe when we go to Bolton he will freshen us up a bit.”