Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew can sense chairman Mike Ashley becoming more hands-on.

Ashley was not seen at a game through the winter but a regular since Pardew was banned from the touchline last month.

Pardew said: "I think it means he's taking a closer hold of the club, maybe, and I think that's a good thing.

"He's been at the games, he's seen for good or bad what we are at the moment.

"I think he has a good knowledge of football and good experience now. You have to say he's an experienced owner.

"I'd like to think in the summer we can make the right decisions. "We need to get results in the bag before we even talk about that.

"I don't want to distract from what our fans want to hear really, which is about what happens today."