ALAN Pardew has outlined the importance of keeping his “warrior” Cheick Tioté at Newcastle United past the January transfer window – even though he knows a “silly money” bid might yet take the matter out of his hands.

The United boss met Mike Ashley in the North East yesterday to discuss defensive recruitment plans, but it is the name of his star midfielder that remains on everyone’s lips with a tense January transfer window around the corner.

The Andy Carroll scenario taught everyone on Tyneside that the Newcastle board is not immune if an offer is tabled for one of the club’s star players that is large enough, and Pardew is canny enough to admit Tioté is in the same boat.

Chelsea and Tottenham have both watched him over the last 12 months while Manchester United, shorn of Darren Fletcher for the “foreseeable future”, have also been credited with an interest.

Tioté does not want to leave, though – sentiments that Pardew shares as he looks forward to a possible Saturday return for his key man.

The likelihood of that is officially rated at “50-50”, although the smart money is on Mehdi Abeid or Haris Vuckic joining Yohan Cabaye in the engine room for the visit of Swansea.

Pardew admits United are “vulnerable” on Tioté, simply because he is such a good player.

“He’s a big target because he’s a great player. Great players will be targeted. We’re always on our guard with Cheick – we realise that to us he’s very important. It would be very difficult to get him out of here.”