I wondered whether we'd go in for him before he went to Bordeaux. Aside from having played under Pardew, him and Cabaye are basically best mates as well.

Would definitely be decent competition for right back and midfield although obviously we have other positions that need more urgent attention.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

I like this idea!! Ward is still young enough to improve and I quite rate him anyway but with debuchy challenging for the spot too it could give him the impetus to work harder and be better. It would certainly strengthen the squad and would result in that position being sorted.