NEWCASTLE United boss Alan Pardew has told Demba Ba to gun for 20 goals this season.

The Senegal hit man is on 11 for the campaign after a brilliant double at Norwich and, even though he has African Nations Cup commitments next month, the United boss is convinced Ba can become the first forward since Alan Shearer to net 20 or more.

That would cap an excellent first season for a player signed on a free from West Ham in the summer to relatively little fan fare.

“I think it is a realistic target because I think we have games coming up now when he can add to his tally,” Pardew said. “I just think he has been outstanding and probably with TK and Colo our best player this year. Even last week, we lose Dan Gosling and I ask him to go in centre midfield, in a hard position and he did that brilliantly. He is just one of those players, just good at everything he does.”

Ba is the third top scorer in the top flight behind Rob Van Persie and Sergio Aguero but has attracted little of the acclaim of “bigger name” strikers this season. Ba himself is unconcerned about the relatively low-key reception afforded his exploits but Pardew feels that he should have had more credit for two excellent strikes at Carrow Road.

“His two finishes!” he said. “That first goal, if that's Denis Bergkamp, it probably gets played every day on Sky! But it was a class finish, every bit as good as Van Persie's.”

Meanwhile, as snow swept through parts of Newcastle yesterday Pardew has paid tribute to the board for laying the undersoil heating that will allow United to train throughout the cold snap.

“It could be very important. ” he said. “It was a good investment for us and hopefully it will bear fruit as we go into January and beyond.”