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Short straw over West Brom's Shane Long for Newcastle manager Alan Pardew
ALAN PARDEW remains a huge admirer of West Brom striker Shane Long – but has now given up on enticing him to move to St James’ Park.
Newcastle boss Pardew, above, who will come face to face with Long in today’s Premier League clash on Tyneside, said: “He’s a striker I’ve been interested in. I’ve been well aware of him through my Reading connections and a couple of times I have tried to bring him to this club.
“He’s a dangerous player, really works hard and has flair in his game. It is very important we do not let him have an opportunity.
“I don’t think he will sign for us. I think he will get it sorted out at West Brom. In the past there was genuine interest. He was always in and around the players we talked about bringing in. Among the Premier League managers, we all respect Shane.”
Baggies boss Steve Clarke yesterday reiterated his intention to keep Long, despite the player coming within hours of leaving the Hawthorns in September after Albion agreed a fee of £6.5SHrS million with Hull.
Clarke said: “I just want Shane to continue in this run of form. I don’t want to spend the next four weeks talking about Shane’s contract or whether he’s going to be here after January, because he will be.”