Pards faces Ell of a tough tie

ALAN PARDEW has been warned to be on the lookout for Morecambe’s “Special K”.

Kevin Ellison is gunning for Newcastle as the veteran forward looks to add to his two goals from the weekend.

Jim Bentley’s League Two minnows will crank up the pressure on Pardew big style if they can pull off a huge Capital One Cup shock.

Manager Bentley backed Ellison to ruffle a few Toon feathers at a sold out Globe Arena.

He said: “Kevin gets in people’s faces, gets the crowd going and often the ref has to ask me to calm him down. I wouldn’t change him.”

Rugged Scouser Ellison has banged in over 100 goals in 400 matches for 12 clubs, and Bentley added: “He typifies what we’re all about

“Credit where credit’s due, he’s 34, and people always question a player’s age, but it just makes you want to come out fighting.

“Kevin’s got his eyes on Newcastle. It’s a tasty tie for us, not just for the club and the supporters, but for the town as a whole. It’s a good occasion but we’ve got to make sure we give a good account of ourselves.”

Toon boss Pardew will make changes – but knows he can’t risk a disastrous defeat by tinkering too much with a side that’s racked-up one shot on target in three hours’ football.

Focusing

Shola Ameobi will be handed another chance to try to impress – but the 31-year-old admits his days at St James’ Park might be numbered.

The Nigeria striker has less than 12 months left on his current deal, and with Pardew keen to bring in fresh attacking options before the transfer window shuts, Ameobi admitted: “If Newcastle don’t feel I’m up to that, I’ll move on. We’ll see what happens.

“I’m just focusing on the Morecambe game, because something we haven’t done in a long time is win a domestic trophy.

Dan Gosling, Paul Dummett and keeper Rob Elliot are set to come in for Toon, who will again be without Yohan Cabaye.

The unsettled France midfielder is waiting for Arsenal to improve their initial £12million offer.