There is unlikely to be a major shift in system for Saturday’s game against Swansea despite a clamour for Pardew to introduce young guns like Adam Armstrong and Ayoze Perez to the striking mix.
With Papiss Cisse still short of match sharpness, Pardew has to decide whether to stick with Manu Riviere for the game against high-flying Swansea – which comes with his job under serious threat.
Manu Riviere is lost up front by himself.
Manu Riviere: "Help me out here!"
There have also been question marks about the form of Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini, but Steven Taylor is hardly a star option, and the one central defender in form this season (Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa) is on loan to Roma!
Cheick Tiote has claimed he is looking to move to Arsenal, but we cannot expect a Yohan Cabaye-type strike, because the transfer window is closed.
But will we see the best of him, now he has handed in a transfer request?