ALAN PARDEW has paid tribute to Jonas Gutierrez, and is hoping the Newcastle United midfielder’s ongoing battle with testicular cancer will enable other sufferers to be more honest and open about the illness.

Gutierrez delivered a series of interviews in his native Argentina this week revealing he is undergoing chemotherapy in order to treat testicular cancer, after an initial bout of treatment failed to eradicate the disease.

“Myself and Colo (Fabricio Coloccini) have known about this for a long time,” said Pardew. “I’ve kept my counsel because that was the request from Jonas and his family. He decided to go back to Argentina to get treatment and be near his family, and we respected that.

“It’s been a little bit difficult to have contact with him, and that’s mainly (been) through Colo, if I am honest. But the club is supporting him on a financial level and I hope has given him the support he needs.

“I can only admire the way he has conducted himself. I am sure people will use this as an example of how to deal with it because he has been incredibly brave to go on TV and give interviews. Someone will be diagnosed with it in the North-East today - it is that common. All our love goes to him and we just send our best wishes.”

Newcastle will honour the remainder of Gutierrez’s contract, although given that he has already entered the final year of his deal, the winger is almost certain to have played his final game for the club even if his treatment is an unqualified success.

“The best left-side pairing I have had at this club was (Jose) Enrique and Jonas,” said Pardew. “There is no doubt about that. That was a terrific pairing. When we finished fifth, Jonas was a massive part of that.

“He was popular not just on the pitch, but also off it with his stupid singing and dancing and naked antics up and down the corridor. He is much missed.”