Alan Pardew has told Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor they can fulfil their ambitions at Newcastle.
Pardew hopeful on Carroll and Taylor
Alan Pardew has told Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor they can fulfil their ambitions by remaining at Newcastle.
The Magpies manager has been quizzed on the futures of several of his key men since being appointed as Chris Hughton's replacement a fortnight ago.
He has already made it clear that he wants to keep all his top players, including Joey Barton as well as Carroll and Taylor.
Carroll has been in such impressive form during the early part of the season that speculation has suggested he could be a target for some of the Premier League's leading clubs.
However, Pardew has been encouraged by what he has heard from the Gateshead-born striker and feels staying at St James' Park would be good for his career.
"Andy seems to be a very level-headed guy and from what I have seen of him, he has adhered himself to the place here," said Pardew.
Potential
"This is his town and he is playing for a big city club. He also understands that whatever he wants to achieve in the game and the ambitions he has, he could achieve here.
"He has already got an England cap and if we progress as a team, then maybe those international caps will increase.
"He's a young player who potentially could be a really great player."
That potential was underlined by headlines at the weekend suggesting Tottenham are preparing a £20million bid with Chelsea waiting in the wings, although Newcastle insist they will not be doing business.
Pardew added: "It doesn't surprise me that some of the big clubs are looking at him.
"Having said that, he is very, very important to this football club and I am making that very, very clear to the media and to other managers if they ring me.
"No-one has rung me, though, so I am just putting it down to speculation at the moment."
Positive signs
Taylor, meanwhile, will be out of contract in the summer and was placed on the transfer list earlier this season after several rounds of talks failed to produce any kind of agreement.
He will be able to speak to other clubs next month if the situation has still not been resolved but Pardew is confident of sorting something out.
He said: "I am due to speak to his agent shortly to try to convince him and the player that this is the club to stay at, and the signs from what Steven has shown in training and what he has said are that he does want to stay.
"But of course, the financial package needs to be right for us and it needs to be right for Steven, and that's what we will be discussing.
"The one thing I do know is again, he is a local boy to this city. He has still got a lot of learning to do, he is only a very, very young centre-half.
"I think I can help him in that and I am hoping that resolves itself in the next week or so."
