Progress pleases Pardew as thoughts turn to building for future

ALAN PARDEW will head for Liverpool tonight confident Newcastle have made significant progress since he first went into battle with the Reds.

Pardew stepped into the home dugout at the then St James’ Park for the first time on December 11 last year with the club in turmoil in the wake of Chris Hughton’s dismissal.

The fans were in open revolt after Hughton’s controversial exit — the man who had guided the Magpies back to the Barclays Premier League was summarily dispatched with his side making a fist of life in the top flight and replaced by, in the eyes of the most disgruntled locals at least, a new member of the so-called ‘Cockney Mafia’ in control of the club.