Replacing playmaker Cabaye top summer priority for Pardew

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is adamant Yohan Cabaye will be replaced this summer.

The 52-year-old looked on in dismay as his star man was sold to Paris St Germain in January, with the club unable to strike a deal to plug the chasm his departure created.

However, having already started the planning process for what promises to be a crucial closed-season recruitment drive — detailed talks with owner Mike Ashley are yet to take place — the main focus will be replacing the man who made the Magpies tick in his two and a half years on Tyneside.

Asked if Cabaye’s exit had forced the club to recalibrate its ambitions for the remainder of the season, Pardew said: “It’s fair to say that the transfer made it harder to qualify for Europe — and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that — because we couldn’t replace him.

“But that doesn’t mean to say we can’t replace him in the summer.

“We know we have got good players here, but we do need that controller of the ball, that clever player, and we will get one in the summer, for sure.”

Newcastle retain an interest in Montpellier midfielder Remy Cabella, who they tried to sign during the winter transfer window.

In the meantime, Pardew, whose three-game stadium ban will end after tonight’s home clash with Everton, will concentrate on the task of easing the club as far up the Premier League table as he can in the remaining eight games of the campaign.

The Magpies sit in eighth place on 46 points after Saturday’s late 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

That win was greeted deliriously by assistant manager John Carver on the sidelines and the bulk of a crowd of 51,588 at St James’ Park.

The celebrations were just as intense at the training ground, where Pardew was watching by video-link.

He said with a smile: “Me and the analyst had a little cuddle and a jump around the room because up until that point, it had been frustrating.”

Meanwhile, Everton manager Roberto Martinez believes Pardew’s touchline ban will have personally hurt his Newcastle counterpart more than it has his team.

“It must be difficult. I cannot even think how you can cope with that frustration of not being able to help the team and trying to read the game from the sideline,” said Martinez.

Everton have not won away from home in the league since beating Swansea on December 22 and Martinez admits that form has to change if they are to maintain their challenge for European football.

“When you have to face four of the top five sides away from home it will be difficult, but looking at the performances they were encouraging and brave,” said Martinez.

“It will allow us to develop into a team who can go anywhere in the league and win. We need to try to get a very good performance because the away-points return in the last four or five has been disappointing.”