Barness On Board

Alan Pardew has signed Anthony Barness on loan from Bolton Wanderers for a month.

Says Alan Pardew:

"He can play either full back position, he has had two promotions and two relegations, he has experience and he knows what is needed to help us.

"He's well known to me because I played with him at Charlton and one of the reasons I brought him here is because he is used to the pressure."

Alan also dismisses, for the record, the ludicrous assertion - here we go again - that Jermain Defoe is about to leave the club on the cheap.

Going from the sublime of the last few months to the utterly ridiculous, it has been suggested that he will move to Arsenal for £5m.

"Not so," says Alan, "I have said I don't want him to go and that remains the case.

"There's no way Jermain will be going to Arsenal for £5million; there's been no interest from any Premiership club for Jermain with a bid.

"I talk to managers and he's discussed - but no more than that."

Alan is looking to strengthen and adds:

"One or two new faces could kick start the season."