Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is facing a dressing room battle as they stare down relegation.

The Mirror says Pardew's cause is not helped by a section of his squad being unhappy and ultra-sensitive to the criticism dished out during their slump to the brink of relegation.

Sources claim chief whinger has been skipper Yohan Cabaye, who has made his discontent clear to team-mates, rather than being the man leading the revival.

Cabaye, whose proposed switch to Spurs last summer but was blocked by United, is a summer target for Paris St Germain and has acted as a pivotal figure getting Pardew's message across to team mates.

It is feared that team spirit is disintegrating amid a blame culture that is wrecking the end of the season, with some players internally calling for more back-bone and spirit to be shown.