Pardew hopeful of keeping Coloccini

Alan Pardew remains hopeful of keeping Fabricio Coloccini at Newcastle after watching the Magpies captain put in an impressive display to keep Norwich at bay in an uninspiring goalless draw at Carrow Road.

Coloccini this week asked for a transfer back to his native Argentina so he can be reunited with his wife. But the former Deportivo La Coruna man, who is wanted by San Lorenzo, showed no sign of his off-the-field troubles, putting in a solid performance which was much to his manager's delight.

"He was excellent today," the Newcastle manager said. "Of the four centre-halves on the pitch he was the most assured. He gave us that calmness in the heat of battle and you need that."

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