Pardew hails Ashley input

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has hailed the huge personal investment made by owner Mike Ashley as the club move closer to Champions League qualification.

The Magpies' 3-0 win over Stoke on Saturday helped lift them to fourth in the Barclays Premier League as Pardew's team - built around shrewd acquisitions such as Papiss Cisse, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa - continue to exceed expectations.

"Mike's put something like £273m into the club and he's not taken anything back," Pardew told the Sunday Times.

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