Pardew Touchy About Colo Question!

Last updated : 11 February 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Fabricio Coloccini, Gabriel Obertan, Ryan Taylor (all knee injuries), Cheick Tiote (hamstring), Yoan Gouffran (muscle), Papiss Cisse (back) and Gael Bigirimana (ankle) missed Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.

Mathieu Debuchy injured his calf early in that game and will not face Spurs.

Pardew is hoping Cisse might, but was unsure of Gouffran’s fitness.

Coloccini has been pencilled in to return on 23 February. But Pardew, for some reason, snapped at reporters when asked if Colo was back in training - refusing to answer the question.

Alan Pardew: “I think he’ll be available for the Villa game.

“Fingers crossed we’ll have him available.

"We have a 90-minute game and a week’s training to get through before then.

"Looking at the games we have ahead, we have to get what we can from Tottenham with the team available.

"Then the Aston Villa game is on the horizon.

“If selected I think he will be (match fit). He’s missed the last three derbies which we’ve lost, which is significant in my opinion.

"It’s not just his ability but everything about him. We’ve missed his nonchalance and the security he gives us and that calmness.

"You can’t put a price on that.”