NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has laughed off suggestions from owner Mike Ashley that he could be one defeat away from dismissal.

Ashley, who is notoriously wary of the media, was quoted in a national newspaper this morning hinting that Pardew could lose his job if Newcastle lose at Stoke City on Monday evening.

The 'interview' took place outside a London pub on Thursday evening, with Ashley seemingly giving the journalist from the I-paper permission to use his comments.

Pardew claims he would be more worried if Ashley had made similar comments in a formal interview setting, and maintains it is business as usual as he prepares his side for the trip to the Britannia Stadium.

The Newcastle boss said: "I've not see him (Ashley), but I've spoken to him this week. He's obviously very keen for us to get victories, that's what he's about. That's what we're about - winning.

"I've been made aware of his comments in the paper. I've been under pressure at this club for a number of weeks now. All I can focus on now is the team, and that's what I'll do.

"Sometimes things are taken out of context. If it was a sit-down interview done in a serious manner, I'd be a lot more concerned that I am today, that's for sure."

Pardew will make a late decision over Papiss Cisse's availability after a bout of illness forced him out of the squad for Wednesday's Capital One Cup win at Crystal Palace.

Cisse scored two goals as Newcastle came back to claim a point against Hull last Saturday, and Pardew must decide whether to start with him alongside Emmanuel Riviere, who scored his first two goals of the season at Selhurst Park.

Pardew said: "Papiss has not had much football and had flu this week, so he hasn't trained yet. He's not fully up to speed.

"But he's fit and well, and there are no lingering doubts about his injury, and he looks on the way back which is pleasing.

"It's very important that your strikers score. The longer they go without a goal, it becomes a real problem because they start thinking about things and hesitating, not so much for Papiss, but for Manu. They were two very important goals for him.

"Can they play together? The answer to that will evolve as we go on this season. For sure, they'll  play together at some point and if we can get a combination like Demba (Ba) and Papiss, we'll be happy. We'll look at that when they're both fit and well."

Adam Armstrong is also pushing for a starting spot after his impressive showing in the week, but Pardew has counselled against expecting too much of the teenage striker too soon.

He said: "We've definitely got to be careful with him because he's only 17. He's got to play in a position which is probably the hardest to play in the Premier League, and he needs to gain the experience and self-confidence to play there, but he got a lot of that the other night.

"He started off nervously, but he got better as the game went on. You could see him grow, but that's what I need to be careful of, that he keeps growing and he's not deflated by a performance where he looks short."