Newcastle, United Kingdom – Alan Pardew has said there's no respite from the pressure he is under at Newcastle United despite the recent international break.
Pardew is set to celebrate his 700th game in permanent management this Saturday but said the milestone will count for little if he is left with the more unwanted statistic of leading the north-east club to its worst start in Premier League history.
Failure to beat Leicester City will post an eighth game without a victory at the outset of the campaign, one more than the current low in 1999.
Pardew has enjoyed a spell out of the limelight during the recent top-flight hiatus due to internationals, but the 53-year-old conceded the pressure was already starting to build again ahead of the sell-out clash with the Foxes at St James' Park.
“I don't think it's about things calming down,” Pardew said. “We haven't won a game yet and that's exactly what we need to do. We're paid to win games, not to draw them or to be honourable losers, so we need a victory.
“That being the case, the pressure is very much on me and the team. We shouldn't shirk that.”
Pardew's rollercoaster reign has seen a fifth-place finish followed by a grim battle for Premier League survival in the space of 12 months in what has been an at-times turbulent four years.
He has come under increasing fire from supporters for a run that has seen just five league victories since the end of December, that despite securing a top-10 finish in May.
“I've managed in three tiers of English football, and as a manager you have real ups and downs,” Pardew added.
“There's euphoria and some real dark days, which I've had recently here.
“You have to try to show a consistency in what you do. It's not really a time for reflection for me this week, because Leicester is so important for this football club.
“All I'm focused on is getting the win we need for this city and the club.”
Goalkeeper Tim Krul is set to retain his ever-present Premier League status this season after recovering from an elbow injury.
Pardew will monitor Senegal forward Papiss Cisse and Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote with the duo scheduled to return to training a little over 24 hours before kick-off following their arrival back from international duty.
Gabriel Obertan will start back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since January 2013 after Pardew confirmed the French winger will retain his place from the side that drew 2-2 at Swansea City last time out.
For Leicester manager Nigel Pearson this is a return to the club where he was on the coaching staff from 2006 to 2008 and had two spells as caretaker manager.
“I look back at my two years at Newcastle with good memories,” he said. “It was an appointment that came out of the blue. I had left West Brom as Bryan Robson had left and did not expect to be in work so quickly. It was a great experience for me.
“It's a big club and there were a lot of good things about them. It was unfortunate that I worked for three managers so it goes to show the expectation of the club. I still know a lot of people that worked for the club and look forward to seeing them.”
Leicester have a near fully fit squad with only Matt Upson missing. However, Riyad Mahrez and Jeffrey Schlupp may be rested following late returns from international duty with Algeria and Ghana respectively. – Sapa-AFP