Alan Pardew: “He’s been terrific this year.
“He’s back to his very best.
“I would put him in our top three of the year.
“Certainly, since I gave him the armband he has been outstanding for us.
“He’ll be somebody we are very keen to keep at this football club.
“You only have to look at the teams who have played in the Europa League this season.
“It shows that it has a massive impact.
“And none more so than it affected Cheick last year.
“All of those games when he had injuries.”