Pardew’s Hammers time bond with rival

ALAN PARDEW believes he has a special bond with his Sunderland rival Paolo Di Canio.

The Newcastle boss will pit his wits against the Italian for the first time tomorrow afternoon in the Tyne-Wear derby.
And Pardew admits Di Canio was a player he would love to have had the chance to manage.
The former Hammers boss, 51, said: “We have a mutual bond in that we were both employed at West Ham.
“I just missed him there but he was spoken about very highly by my staff when I arrived.
“I admired him as a footballer and always loved that type of player.
“I think the only other player in that era like him was Eric Cantona, who Alex Ferguson said changed the mood of the British players.
“Paolo did that at Celtic and West Ham — and he will take it into his managerial career.”
Last season’s derby on Tyneside was marred by a bust-up between Pardew and then Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill.
All eyes will again be on the dugouts with fiery Di Canio now in the hotseat.
Pardew added: “He’s been very professional and that’s how he will be on the sideline.
“He knows the spotlight is on him and we have to conduct ourselves in the right manner.
“I’ll shake his hand and look forward to meeting him.”