NEWCASTLE United boss Alan Pardew has held a series of clear-the-air meetings with his under-performing squad in an attempt to regroup ahead of the final three games of the season.

And while there is an acceptance that a wide-ranging review of this season's failings will be conducted in the summer, Pardew and his coaching staff are determined to ensure the mounting uncertainty over their own positions does not adversely affect the Magpies' ongoing survival bid.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will not be changing his manager before he has had the chance to digest a wide-reaching assessment of where things have gone wrong this term, and Pardew has been told it is business as usual despite last weekend's humiliating 6-0 home defeat to Liverpool.

The Magpies manager has discussed the weekend's events with both Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias, but used yesterday's training session to draw a line under the events of Saturday night and focus his squad's attention on this weekend's critical trip to West Ham.

Newcastle's players were encouraged to air any lingering grievances, with Pardew determined to foster a sense of togetherness despite a number of reports hinting at splits within the camp.

Those reports have been downplayed by senior St James' Park officials, although a number of figures are privately willing to concede that the task of integrating five January signings, most of whom could not speak English, has proved more challenging than was anticipated.

Nevertheless, there is displeasure at Gary Neville's brutal assessment of Newcastle's failings on Sky Television on Monday night, with the former England international having claimed that Pardew's post-match interview at the weekend hinted "that there must be cliques developing in the dressing room".

With three games in which to safeguard their Premier League status, Pardew has told his players to ignore any outside influences and focus their attention on the job in hand.

That could be easier said than done on Saturday as Newcastle travel to Upton Park for a game that contains more sub-plots than EastEnders.

Not only will the Magpies renew acquaintances with former skipper Kevin Nolan, the 'British bulldog-style' leader many feel the current Newcastle squad is lacking, they will also lock horns with Andy Carroll, whose departure from St James' Park remains a contentious issue.

To add further spice, West Ham are managed by Sam Allardyce, a manager still smarting from his dismissal in the early days of the Ashley regime.

Newcastle will kick off on Saturday in 17th position after Aston Villa's 6-1 win over Sunderland took them above the Magpies on goal difference - the lowest they have been since Pardew was appointed - and while Wigan remain five points away in 18th, any breathing space has all but disappeared in the last few weeks.

"We've had a really, really poor month in terms of results," admitted Pardew. "Now we have to stick together and get through it. As I've said before, words don't win games. They're not important any more.

"We've got one point from three league games, and that's not good enough for this football club. Now we're in a dogfight, and we've got to fight. We've got enough character and belief in that dressing room to get through it. We've got to show that now."

Newcastle should at least be boosted by the return of skipper Fabricio Coloccini, who is set to make his first appearance since February alongside Steven Taylor at the heart of the back four.

"His leadership is important," said Pardew. "Hopefully, he comes through this week, and we can get him out on the pitch with the armband on."