Newcastle have been given permission to speak to Wigan striker Arouna Kone.

Fernando Torres could be unleashed at Wembley after sending Chelsea into the Europa League semi-finals.

Richard Dunne could be thrown back into the fray for tonight’s battle of the wounded giants as Aston Villa host Newcastle United in the Premier League, (7.45pm).

Interim Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez accused Fernando Torres’ statistics-obsessed critics of being clueless after the striker’s dry January continued against Arsenal.

Southampton 1 Chelsea 5

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is confident striker Demba Ba’s proposed move to Chelsea will go through, allowing the Magpies to “move on”.

With the transfer window opening today Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has hit out at the network of people surrounding Demba Ba, with his future on Tyneside becoming the subject of frenzied speculation.

Alan Pardew will not subject himself to another transfer window of fretting over Demba Ba if he remains a Newcastle player at the end of next month.

Newcastle 3 Wigan 0

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has warned his side not to be overcome by the intimidating atmosphere at Anfield as they go in search of their first win over Liverpool on Merseyside in more than 18 years.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admits in-form striker Demba Ba could be a doubt for next weekend's Premier League trip to Anfield after limping out of Sunday's late win over West Bromwich Albion.

Sunderland 1 Newcastle 1

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson was impressed by David de Gea’s midweek performance but will continue rotating his goalkeepers for the immediate future.

Reading 2 Newcastle 2

Newcastle 1 Norwich City 0

Newcastle 1 Norwich 0

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew last night insisted there is no rift between himself and striker Demba Ba.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew tonight insisted there is no rift between himself and striker Demba Ba.

Everton manager David Moyes was left to bemoan two disputed decisions by officials which cost his side the chance of victory at home to Newcastle.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert admits he has a big decision this weekend to decide whether to persevere with former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given after his goal-costing error against Everton last weekend.

For almost seven months, it’s made for grim post-match viewing, never-ending re-runs of those bad days at the office, but finally Demba Ba can settle back and feast his eyes on a welcome reminder of what he does best.

Liverpool last night rejected an audacious Newcastle bid to re-sign striker Andy Carroll on loan, with a view to a permanent move.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has dismissed suggestions that Barcelona could prise Yohan Cabaye from his grasp for as little as £8 million.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has warned man-of-the-moment Papiss Cisse life in the Premier League may not always be as easy as he is making it look.

There hasn’t been a transformation like this in football since Emmanuel Eboue went from boo-boy to folk hero because when Thomas Vermaelen scored a dramatic last-minute goal against Newcastle it turned the Emirates into a cauldron of passion and Arsenal into serious contenders for third place.

Alan Pardew refused to blame Newcastle’s limp FA Cup display at Brighton on their midweek trip to Tenerife.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew believes his new striker Papiss Demba Cisse is the perfect replacement for Andy Carroll after landing the player on a five-and-a-half year deal from German side Freiburg.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson insisted there was no need for panic after seeing his title-chasers humbled at Newcastle.

NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew is readying himself for a difficult transfer window as he attempts to drag the club out of its recent slump.

Alex Ferguson has questioned whether assistant referee John Flynn should ever be appointed to a Premier League match again after his penalty blunder cost Manchester United victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford this afternoon.

NEWCASTLE striker Demba Ba gave Stoke a taste of what they missed out on with a hat-trick as the Magpies won 3-1 to move within a point of second-placed Manchester United.

NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew hailed the men asked to plug the gap left by Andy Carroll after seeing Demba Ba plunder a hat-trick against Blackburn on Saturday.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew hailed the men asked to plug the gap left by Andy Carroll after seeing Demba Ba plunder a hat-trick against Blackburn.

BOLTON manager Owen Coyle concedes he will have a difficult job hanging on to Gary Cahill this summer but insists the club will not be short-changed if they decide to sell the defender.

Ryan Babel is reported to be undergoing a medical in Hoffenheim ahead of a transfer to the Bundesliga club from Liverpool.