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Pardew Ponders Forward Selections
Written by Newcastle Utd
Alan Pardew talks about his striking options ahead of Monday's trip to Stoke City
By Steven Back
Alan Pardew faces some welcome striking selection headaches over the coming weeks, and hasn't ruled out forming a partnership between Papiss Cisse and Emmanuel Riviere.
Following a serious knee injury, Senegalese international Cisse returned to the Magpies side last weekend with a brace against Hull, while summer signing Riviere netted two in United's Capital One Cup victory at Crystal Palace - his first goals for his new club.
Having played with a lone front man during the early weeks of the new season, Pardew has a decision to make on his best option up top. But, ahead of Monday's league trip to Stoke City, the boss revealed he could select both.
"For sure they will play together at some point," said Pardew.
"If we can get a combination like we had with Demba Ba and Papiss then we will be very very pleased, so it's something we have used before and certainly we will look at that when they are both fit and well."
Further adding to the depth up-front is 17-year-old Adam Armstrong, who made his full United debut in that dramatic cup win at Palace last week.
The Academy product impressed at Selhurst Park and is knocking on the door for minutes in the Barclays Premier League, but Pardew knows he has to look after his young talent.
"We definitely have to be careful with him as he is only 17 and he has got to play in a position which is the hardest position to play in the Premier League, as a forward," said the boss of his starlet.
"He needs to gain the experience and the self-confidence to play, but he got a lot of that the other night because he started off very nervous and he got better as the game went on. You could see him grow.
"That's what I have to be careful of - that he keeps growing and doesn't get deflated and looks short. But at the moment he looks up to speed so we are very pleased with him."