The Magpies exploded back into top form on Wednesday night as they condemned Manchester United to a 3-0 defeat, although they did so with Ba and Tiote playing their final game before heading off on African Nations Cup duty with Senegal and the Ivory Coast respectively. Pardew knows what a miss the pair will be, but he is hoping the men who take their places will be able to maintain the fight for a top-six finish - Newcastle currently lie seventh in the table - and progress in the FA Cup as they prepare for Saturday's third-round clash with Blackburn. He said: "Obviously, I am hoping so, but they are two massive players. You take a huge figure out of one of the other teams and it's significant. "If you took Rooney out of Manchester United, probably they wouldn't look the same for seven games, so you have to accept that. "Having said that, we have got players who are champing at the bit. Hatem Ben Arfa wants a chance, Leon Best wants to show what he showed last year, Peter Lovenkrands will be eager to throw his hat in the ring, so we have still got great players in the club and we hope that we can keep the momentum and the form going. "We have just approached one game at a time, but we have got to the halfway stage in seventh place and that's significant. It can only arm us with confidence to go forward." Ben Arfa in particular has had to remain patient following his recovery from a double leg fracture, and did not even make it off the bench on Wednesday night, hours after speaking of his frustration in an interview. However, Pardew insists he will get his chance and has challenged him to show exactly why he should be in the team when he does. The 50-year-old said: "He will get an opportunity, and we will try to play to his strengths. "I have said before many times, he has a special talent. We need to see more of it." Pardew will hope Ben Arfa can help to plug the gap left by the departing Ba, who signed off with a stunning individual display and the opening goal in last night's famous victory over United. Asked if it was his best performance yet for Newcastle, Ba replied: "I don't know if it's my best because I have had a couple of good ones. "But this one, to be fair, I am proud of because we were playing the champions. "We won 3-0 at home and when you have a good performance like that, it's just unbelievable." Ba's concentration for the next few weeks, at least, will be Senegal's exploits in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, although he will be keeping in close touch with events back on Tyneside and hoping he returns to find the club in similarly good shape. He said: "I will look forward to it. I am going to work hard there so I come back still being fit and still being able to score some goals." That is a hope shared by Tiote, who was back to his magnificent best last night against one of the sides linked with an interest in him during the current transfer window. He said: "If we stay in a high position until we come back, that will be great." Meanwhile, Pardew was maintaining his vow to remain tight-lipped over his own transfer business. However, it is understood the club has had another bid for West Ham defender James Tomkins rejected.
