7 Players Who Could Save Alan Pardew's Newcastle Career

5. Gabriel Obertan

Whisper it, but no player has had a bigger impact from the bench (aside from Papiss Cisse and his two goals against Hull) than the fleet-footed Frenchman, and there is every chance that the player might finally be ready to live up to his billing. So far this season the winger has a pass completion rate of 95%, which might be more thanks to his limited pitch time, but he has looked a completely different player in his limited pitch time. Against Stoke in particular he looked twice the player Yoann Gouffran currently is, and his incisive running might be key to unlocking some more opportunities down the right hand side. Unfortunately for the player, a good portion of the fans are still too quick to jump on his back - booing him even before he's made it onto the pitch - but with confidence and work-rate, Obertan could be something of a useful dark horse.