Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will give striker Demba Ba time to prove fitness

Demba Ba: Alan Pardew will give star striker time to prove his fitness

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will give striker Demba Ba every opportunity to prove his fitness for Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool.

The Senegal international suffered a calf injury in the 2-1 win over West Brom last time out and was forced out of the action in the 72nd minute.

Pardew admits that his key forward is still troubled by the problem, but is confident the Magpies will cope even if the seven-goal top-scorer is not fit for the Anfield encounter.

The St James' Park boss told The Chronicle: "Demba has a knock but he still has a good chance. He will come into my thinking. If he doesn't play we can still win."

Newcastle have a miserable recent record at Anfield, having taken just two points from their last 17 Premier League visits and only finding the net once in the last six.

But Pardew is not concerned by the weight of history, particularly as he believes the statistics have little relevance to his current crop of players.

"This side have only been once," he added. "Going to Anfield can be emotional, you can get wrapped up in it, we need to play the game."

And the Magpies manager feels that the pressure will be firmly on the home side as they continue to find their feet under new manager Brendan Rodgers.

He added: "There is more pressure because of what they won. But both of us have ambitions of the top six or top four.

"They are evolving and when you're evolving (you are) vulnerable."