Alan Pardew Confident Newcastle Will Benefit From Fabricio Coloccini Staying

An absence of leadership has often been cited as a major problem for Newcastle in the last two years but Alan Pardew is confident captain Fabricio Colocinni will step up to the plate next season. We all breathed a huge sigh of relief when the Argentine defender vocally committed his future to the Magpies earlier this month following persistent rumours that he would return to his native country to sign for San Lorenzo, the club he supported as a boy. Two years of uncertainty was swiftly ended by Coloccini, who cited a 'personal problem as the reason for his struggle to maintain form and fitness and Pardew believes his skipper will prove himself invaluable to the Club next term.

€œI think that core leadership of having Colo here is important,€ Pardew explained to the Shields Gazette.

€œTake me out of the equation, you€™ve got Mike (Ashley, Newcastle€™s owner), you€™ve got (managing director) Lee Charnley and you€™ve got Colo.

€œThat€™s direct leadership through the club, and I think that€™s important. He is our captain, and he€™s had to do a tough job this year when we€™ve felt down, and been a bit negative with ourselves.

€œHe€™s been important. We all know if he plays like he did against Cardiff €“ and gets back to that level €“ we€™ve got a top player.€

Since assuming the armband from Kevin Nolan in 2011 Coloccini has captained us with great distinction despite not being the most vocal of leaders both on and off the field and we're delighted he's staying at St James' Park to provide a consistent voice through a summer of heavy transition.