With question marks surrounding the fitness of Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, both are in line to start this afternoon as Swansea come to St James’ Park looking to extend Newcastle’s winless run and exploit their sudden tendency to leak goals. Perch and Santon were part of a back four that struggled with set pieces at Carrow Road but Pardew is sure that Newcastle will improve today – regardless of the personnel involved.

“I think we are all a little bit disappointed that even though we did not have any centre halves, with the people we had on the pitch, we did not defend the set plays better (at Norwich). The back four did very well but every set play, we struggled,” the United boss said.

“We looked at that and have to make sure (we improve). Swansea are not a Norwich-type team because Norwich are all about balls down the channel and balls into the box. Swansea are a slightly different proposition, and they are probably better suited to us when we are at home.”

It is no surprise that Pardew and his coaching staff are steadfast in their belief that Perch, Santon and the rest of his black and white understudies are capable of doing a job for the side as United have made great strides to make sure all of the squad feel included.

That means fringe men aren’t sidelined, with John Carver actually admitting to the Journal last month that the coaching staff spend more time on players who are not in the team than those who are making regular first-team appearances. It has reaped rewards in the form of fine performances from Danny Guthrie and Ryan Taylor and now Pardew will look to Perch and Santon to pick up the baton.

“Ever since I have been at the football club I have always stuck by them if they have done well for me and I think that the players, like Perchy, it gives them hope,” he said.

In a candid interview with the Journal today Perch admits that he is enjoying an “unexpected” second chance in black and white but Pardew appreciates the work ethic of the Nottingham-born defender.

He believes he is good enough to secure a future at St James’ Park.

“I think Perchy just gives you everything he’s got when he plays,” Pardew said.

“You ask him to play full-back, right midfield, centre back – it’s not the ideal situation but he never moans or gripes about it. He just does his best.”

Those feelings extend to Santon, who Pardew feels is in his “formative” season as a Premier League performer. “I thought he did very well at Norwich. I saw one report saying he did not and I was surprised by that,” he said.

“You could see when he had the ball that he’s gifted and he needs to get used to some of the hurly burly of the division which he found out at Blackburn in the Carling Cup. But looking at him at Norwich, I think he has realised that.”