Alan Pardew insists Newcastle's failed attempt to sign Adrian Mariappa has not left the club short of defenders.
Newcastle boss says James Perch can provide cover
Alan Pardew insists Newcastle's failed attempt to sign Adrian Mariappa has not left the club short of defenders.
Instead, the Magpies boss is convinced James Perch can provide adequate cover for Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson.
The former Nottingham Forest captain joined Newcastle on a free in 2010 and has made 11 appearances in the Premier League this season.
Newcastle are unlikely to make another offer for Watford's Mariappa in the summer, with Pardew feeling that the club can pick up better players in the summer, with FC Twente defender Douglas, and Ajax's Jan Vertonghen thought to be potential targets.
Pardew told
The Chronicle: "We can hold fire now for the centre-half and we can probably get a better deal when we do.
"I would like to have had a defender, but Perch did well at Brighton.
"You have to say that when he has come in he has done OK. He has boosted me a little bit on that front."
