Gutierrez has played just 63 minutes of football this campaign, and it was reported yesterday that Gutierrez would be entitled to a new deal IF he makes a certain number of appearances.
Pardew, however, says Gutierrez, under contract at St James’s Park until the summer of 2015, hasn’t been frozen out of his first-team squad because of that clause.
Alan Pardew: “Jonas is still under contract here – he’s part of our group.
"I know nothing about any contract clause."
Jonas Gutierrez: “I feel fit.
“The most important thing for me now is to train hard and to wait. I try to be 100 per cent to fight for a place.
“Whether I play is a question for the manager.”