Pardew backs Ameobi
Toon manager confident that striker will not be affected by abuse
Last Updated: February 3, 2012 4:03pm
Shola Ameobi: Suffered racist abuse on Facebook but should feature for Newcastle on Sunday
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is confident that striker Shola Ameobi will be unaffected by the racial abuse that he has suffered.
The 30-year-old has received racist insults on Facebook, months after his brother Sammy was targeted for similar attacks on Twitter.
Northumbria Police have responded to the problem and have launched an investigation.
Ameobi is expected to feature for the Magpies against Aston Villa on Sunday as they look to consolidate their place in the Premier League's top five.
Pardew is convinced that Ameobi will not let his performance levels suffer, but hopes that this latest episode of racial abuse can raise awareness.
Two-edged sword
He said: "It's a two-edged sword. There's one side of that that you don't want to see, and it's insulting and everything that goes with it.
"But on the other side it highlights the issue that it needs to be eradicated from our society.
"The publicity around Shola won't affect him; he's far too big and strong to be affected by that.
"But it's good to have it in the public spotlight and to say it's wrong so young people realise that when they are going on Facebook or social networking sites, that they understand they have a responsibility.
"Hopefully they can understand it is an issue and a problem and they need to leave it alone."
Shola Ameobi
