Newcastle boss keen to keep QPR striker

Newcastle lost the battle to sign Remy from Marseille on a permanent deal in January as the striker instead joined QPR in a £12.3million deal.

Remy joined the Magpies from QPR on a season-long loan deal this summer.

“I wish he had joined in January,” said Pardew. “I still remember the night clearly when we thought we had done the deal.

“We had a nice glass of wine, gave ourselves a nice, hearty, warm handshake and the next day he wasn’t there.

“But sometimes in life you have to wait. If you wait long enough it comes around.

“We are really pleased to have him, I thought he was excellent. Not just his two goals, but his work-rate and everything he did was competent.

“He is a player on our books and we are pleased to have him, but at the moment he is a QPR player.

“It was interesting to read Harry Redknapp’s comments that he probably won’t be going back, but we will have to see.”