Alan Pardew has called on football's authorities to revise the hectic Christmas schedule, with Premier League teams pushed to breaking point.
Magpies boss feels festive fixture list includes one game too many
Alan Pardew has called on football's authorities to revise the hectic Christmas schedule, with Premier League teams pushed to breaking point.
The Newcastle United boss saw his side claim a memorable scalp on Wednesday, with title-chasing Manchester United put to the sword at St James' Park.
A 3-0 victory suggests there is not too much wrong with the Magpies right now, but the fixture was their fifth in 19 days.
They are also due to face Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on Saturday, with the games continuing to come thick and fast.
Pardew has done his best to keep players fresh, but he feels they are being asked to play too many games and has called for a fixture shake-up to be considered.
He said: "The thing that the FA and the Premier League must be wary of is that players playing with fatigue can get injured, and this is what happens.
"We get to these tournaments and the end of the year and we are missing key players, and that's why the schedule has to be looked at now and again.
"The Christmas schedule, probably for the Premier League, is a game too far and maybe moving one of those to later in January or February would be beneficial for everybody in my opinion."
Special talent
Part of the problem for Pardew is that he is about to lose players to the African Cup of Nations, with Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote set to link up with Senegal and the Ivory Coast respectively.
Their absence will mean a greater burden is being carried by those left behind, forcing the Magpies to shuffle their pack.
Pardew would rather not be losing two influential figures, but he believes he has the depth in his squad to cover the loss - with the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa desperate for an extended run in the side.
On the French forward, Pardew said: "He will get an opportunity, and we will try to play to his strengths.
"I have said before many times, he has a special talent. We need to see more of it."
