Coloccini’s current deal with the Magpies is set to expire at the end of next season and the club are in talks with the Argentine defender over a new long-term contract.
“Fabricio represents everything I like,” said Pardew. “He was the number one choice to be captain and there wasn’t really a number two in the running. He was always going to be the captain unless he suffered an injury.
“I admire him as much as a person as a player and there are not many players I would say that about. He’s really fantastic, the perfect character to be captain of this club.
“I hope we get his new contract signed and he will be here as captain for the next three or four years because he is very influential in everything I want to do.”
