Alan Pardew Hopeful On Players.

Having had a gruelling pre-season training campaign, he has openly admitted to being slightly concerned that there are so many first teamers on the sick list.

He is hopeful that some will be ready for the opening game. Puncheon, Spiderman and Lambert all have a chance and it is touch and go as to whether any of the three will become available.

Adam Lallana has a troublesome knee which is not responding well to treatment though it is hoped that he will be ok. he won’t play though as he has had no pre-season at all.

Frazer Richardson is still out for a couple of months and now Mills has joined the list.

The team apart from Mills came through the Reading game well according to Alan and he was pleased with the performance. Not the final score but the game until he began making the multiple substitutions.

Alan reckoned that he was really happy with the teams showing up until then and said that it bodes well for the coming week.

He stressed how well Lee Barnard had played and was delighted with the partnership Lee was forming with Conners.

As he told the OS the front two in particular were extremely sharp and were the highlight for him. Adding also that both new boys, Ryan Dickson and Danny Butterfield were quality.

The team that played the first 65 minutes gave as good as they got and were leading 2-1 until the many substitutions. If we can produce a full 90 minutes in that vein I believe we will have a good start when we host Plymouth on Saturday.