ALAN PARDEW'S hopes of having Yohan Cabaye at Newcastle United for the rest of the season have been boosted after Paris St Germain distanced themselves from a January swoop for the midfielder.

Just days after Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirmed he will not be making a renewed attempt to land the player after his £10m summer offer, the interested French champions are also talking down a move this month.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc has identified Cabaye as one of his preferred options at the hub of his midfield and a summer offer for the player is likely, particularly if Newcastle do not finish in the top four.

But with Newcastle likely to be looking for in excess of £20m for the France international in World Cup year, Blanc does not expect to be making such a significant foray in the transfer market.

The former Manchester United defender said: “I'm very happy with my squad. We won't be making many changes. That's the only thing I can tell you. If there is some transfer action, it won't be on a large scale. There may be some action in terms of departures.”

Blanc went on to say reiterate his admiration for Cabaye by admitting “he is a very good player” but Newcastle are not looking to offload any of their big players at a time when they are just four points off the top four.

The Magpies head to West Brom this afternoon after suffering their second defeat in ten league games and Pardew is considering giving a rest to the former Lille man at The Hawthorns.

Pardew said: “We just try to find a position for him where he is most effective. Sometimes, it is a deeper position, depending on the opposition. Sometimes it is a higher position and against Arsenal, we went for the higher position. West Brom might be slightly different. With the gaps we have got between the games, it may be a time that he gets a rest. We will just have to wait and see.”

He added: "But he is our player and will remain our player until such time a club gives us a fee we think is right for him. He was again terrific against Arsenal.”

Cabaye's impact on Newcastle's performances have also had a positive effect on his compatriot, Mathieu Debuchy.

The two were part of Lille's title winning success before they moved to Tyneside and it took Debuchy time to adapt to the English game.

Pardew thinks he can force his way in to France's World Cup team. He said: "As a player, compared to his first period here last season, it just proves what we managers are saying about new players - sometimes you need time to settle and find your confidence and at the minute, his confidence is sky-high.

“He is playing like a right winger for us. His relationship with Cabaye, in particular, nearly created the first goal for us against Arsenal. They create numerous chances for us. He has been terrific.

"All I can say is it must be one hell of a player to keep him out of the French team at the minute because he is playing brilliantly.”

Another Frenchman, Hatem Ben Arfa, could benefit if Cabaye is left out at West Brom. Ben Arfa has found himself on the bench for many games during Newcastle's good run, but his manager does not think he is far from his best.

“First he has got to get in front of (Yoan) Gouffran and (Moussa) Sissoko and that ain't going to be easy because they have been brilliant,” said Pardew. “But I have no worries about Hatem. I think he's in great shape.

“He is an exciting player and we have always had a history of that here. But at the moment, he is trying to get a team place and he's fighting two very good players to get in the team.”

West Brom are still under the temporary leadership of Keith Downing after last month's pre-Christmas sacking of Steve Clarke.

Pardew said: "I was surprised and very disappointed. His No 2 was Kevin Keen, my assistant at West Ham, and I was very disappointed with that decision. Very sad I will not be meeting them on Wednesday.

"As the coach who has taken over has quite rightly said, they have been galvanised by what happened and want to give a little memory to Steve in terms of how well they are playing. They are playing quite well at the minute so it will be a difficult game."

Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Tiote, Anita; Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran; Remy.