Dan Gosling: 'Newcastle United players are backing Alan Pardew'

Newcastle United midfielder Dan Gosling has insisted that all of the players are behind manager Alan Pardew.

A number of disgruntled supporters have aired their frustration at Pardew, who was hit with a seven-match ban for headbutting Hull City's David Meyler.

The 52-year-old will return to the touchline for the Magpies' trip to Arsenal next week on Monday.

"We're all sticking together," The Journal quotes Gosling as saying. "The manager knows he has all the lads onside. We respect him as a manager and we respect all the coaches.

"The atmosphere around the training ground is actually okay, but come Saturday afternoon it's difficult. I think it will be a lot easier when he's back on the sidelines."

Newcastle's 2-1 loss to Swansea City on Saturday was the club's fifth consecutive defeat.