Alan: Richard Will Return

Alan Pardew is backing Richard Garcia to return to football despite him suffering a second cruciate injury of his short career while training with the Australian Olympic team recently.

"I spoke to him at the beginning of the week and we have decided that the operation he had there before is going to be done there again as it was done very well," he says.

"We are very comfortable with that; they have a fantastic structure there for injury prevention and injuries so there are no worries on that score.

"The boy is obviously disappointed and desperate to come back.

"The only consolation I gave him was that John Salako had two cruciates and came back as good as he went out so with the extra medical knowledge that has been gained by them I have no doubt that he will be back."