Alan Pardew: “I think we’ve got ourselves in a position where its possible that we could have European football.
“I think that’s something we’re going to have to look to try to chase if we can.
"If we can come out the other side of the African Nations Cup seventh or eighth I think we could have a good chance.
“We’ll have to wait and see what happens in that two months (around Janaury) – it’s a very difficult period for us in terms of 2012.
"To lose two of your best players to the African Nations Cup is tough.
”You never know – you just don’t know. You can’t predict it.
“We certainly haven’t done a deal with any player yet but we are looking to bring in someone.
"We’ve approached a couple of clubs for prices and that’s it.
“Every manager hates January.
"It unsettles the group, the media have to sell papers so they speculate and players take it as read if they’re not wanted, they’re off or somebody else exciting wants them.
“The grass isn’t always greener, though.”