"It’s so far off the truth. It all seems to have gone into a spiral of conspiracies" moans Pardew over still-crocked skipper
Follow the leader: Coloccini at the front of the line in training this weekIan Horrocks
Alan Pardew has hit back at “conspiracy theorists” who fear Fabricio Coloccini won’t play for Newcastle again.
Club skipper Coloccini is still out injured and has hardly figured since threatening to walk out in January because he wanted a move to Argentina for family reasons.
Pardew insists the back problem is genuine and says the defender’s situation has degenerated into “spiral of conspiracies.”
The Geordies will again be without Coloccini against Liverpool on Saturday, as French defender Mapou Yanga Mbiwa insists his team-mates DO have the character and spirit for the battle against relegation.
Coloccini is said to be working back to fitness in the next week or so and Pardew said: “He’s one hundred per cent mentally ready. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.
“I think some of the stuff on the internet and in social media is absolute rubbish. It’s so far off the truth.
“Because of the result we had against Sunderland, in particular, it all seems to have gone into a spiral of conspiracies.
“It is unfair if people are questioning his desire to get back fit. It’s very unfair, in fact, to him as a person. A lot of his problems were around his personal situation and I don’t want to go into any details about that.
“But I do feel that his determination to come back from this injury could not be any greater.
“He’s probably in the best condition he’s been in for a long while. I don’t think there’s any substance in those kind of suggestions at all.”
Coloccini’s future is a major headache for Newcastle.
He wants to go back to San Lorenzo, where his father works, but Newcastle want a transfer fee.
Finding a solution will be a priority when the season ends.
There is a suggestion United may cut their losses and get him off the wage bill while accepting a cut price fee below his £7million valuation.
Pardew’s men need a win to ease their relegation problems and Mbiwa, who has got his chance because of Coloccini’s absence, says relegation has not been mentioned in the United camp.
The young France international said: “Above all, the most important thing is to remain aware of the situation in which we find ourselves, it’s also very important to remain really together.
“Amongst staff, players and team-mates, we have to have the attitude that we’re all in this together. Whenever we go out on the pitch, we have to know that we’re involved in a battle and make sure we give our all for 95 minutes in each match.
“With the experience we all have, we have to make sure that we’re always going out there and doing just that.
“Newcastle have shown me that they want to get back up there with the very best, the elite.
“No one is talking about relegation. No, I’m not worried, we’ve got some fantastic players and a lot of confidence, we haven’t lost any of that. We work hard in training, and we’re serious out there.
“It’s important we stick together until the last match and if we’re playing against one of the best five team in the league, we’ll still be confident we can go out and get a result.”
Pardew and Mbiwa both see hope for next season as long as United get the job done and survive this term.
With a bit of good fortune with injuries and extra energy from not being in Europe there is a believe that better is to come next season.
Mbiwa said: “I can see that Newcastle have a really strong strategy and a real project to move forward in future seasons. First of all, we have to make sure that we can get back up into the top seven or eight.
“Next season, if we can be really motivated from the outset and start the season well, there’s no reason why we can’t challenge the top three or four.”
The visit of Liverpool will give the Anfield directors a chance to make another inquiry for Hatem Ben Arfa - and also for Newcastle to talk about the prospect of re-signing Andy Carroll.
But Pardew said: “We won’t be discussing any players until we’re safe in the Premier League.”
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