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Alan Pardew hopes misfiring Newcastle striker Luuk de Jong can find confidence
NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew hopes on-loan striker Luuk de Jong can find the confidence to prove his long-term worth to the club.
The 23-year-old Dutchman switched to Tyneside on a temporary basis from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach in January.
But the forward is yet to open his account for the Magpies after eight Premier League appearances.
However, Pardew is confident that the former FC Twente frontman can find the confidence before the end of his loan deal.
The 52-year-old tactician said: "It's important that his all-round game improves from where he is right now, but that will come with confidence and I can see him growing every day here.
He has had some good displays for us, but there is more to come
"I know he likes the environment that he has found himself in, and players flourish when they start enjoying their football.
"I am trying to introduce him, trying to give him games where I think he can regain his confidence.
"He has had some good displays for us, but there is more to come and I hope between now and the end of the year, he shows that to our fans because we know at this club that we need strikers, and I am hoping he can tick a box for us between now and the end."