Alan Pardew ducked the media after Newcastle United's 3-2 win over Everton.

That decision inevitably sent the rumour mill into overdrive, although neither assistant John Carver nor club officials were able to shed any light on the situation.

Asked why Pardew, who has five and a half years remaining on his contract, had not appeared, Carver said: "He just said, 'Will you go and do the press for me?' That was it. I was actually eating a pie at the time.

"He is fine, he's delighted. It's a fantastic result for us. We have gone on a run of games where we have not won, we have had a difficult period against good opposition and again another good opposition today.

"But we have actually set about them and like I say, take away that five minutes and he has been pleased with the performance. It has probably been one of our best performances in recent times."