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Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew insists he is focused on Monday's match against Stoke City despite the rumours circulating about his future.
Recent comments from Mike Ashley suggesting Pardew would be sacked if Newcastle were to lose at Stoke have been dismissed by Pardew who is adamant that the club's owner was joking.
"Sometimes things are taken out of context,"he said. "I think Mike was trying to be supportive - in his own kind of way.
"I've not seen or spoken to Mike this week. But he's obviously very keen for us to get victories - that's what he's about, winning.
"I'm carrying some scars and I've been under pressure at this club for a number of weeks now but all I can focus on is the team. The focus for me really can only be on Monday night. We're very conscious we haven't had a win but it's not a boxing match, so we can't just fight our way to victory. We've got to get the right balance between having enough fight and being relaxed to play enough good football."
Newcastle are 19th in the table after failing to win any of their first five Premier League matches of the campaign although they did show great spirit in their last match to come back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Hull City.
Papiss Cisse scored both goals for Newcastle against the Tigers after coming on as a substitute and he is set to be on the bench again at the Britannia Stadium as he eases his way back following surgery on a broken kneecap in Januaryil.
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