Mariappa Missed The Boat - Better Players To Arrive

Last updated : 02 February 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

ut

The Watford defender was allegedly "keen to join Newcastle" ... but it looks as though he is destined for a future in the Championship.

Pardew puts his faith in utility man James Perch as back-up for Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, and said "I'm sure we will bring in a better defender in the summer."

Newcastle are set to wait until the summer, with Ajax’s Jan Vertonghen high on Pardew’s list.

Alan Pardew: “We can hold fire now for the centre-half and we can probably get a better deal when we do.

“I would like to have had a defender, but Perch did well at Brighton.

“You have to say that when he has come in he has done OK.

"He has boosted me a little bit on that front.

"But we kept our big names, and that is most important.

“By midnight last night I was hoping I would have nothing to worry about when it came to the big players. There were no bids.”