Carver’sCabellacarrot

Cabella had his best game yet for the club last weekend.

The attacking midfielder, signed from Montpellier last summer, shone before the break in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Carver feels Cabella – who has taken time to adjust to the physical demands of the Premier League – is now starting to deliver.

Asked how he had coaxed along Cabella since taking temporary charge of the team, Carver said: “Just by saying nice things – I’m not always beating people with sticks! – and encouraging him to express himself.

“It’s maybe also the shape of the team. We’ve allowed him a bit more freedom, but is he prepared to do the work for the team?

“I have changed the team slightly by bringing Moussa (Sissoko) back in (to the middle).

“That might be a way of getting the best out of him. He has to start producing. He produced something where he had a dribble.”

The challenge for Cabella – likely to start against Southampton at St James’s Park this evening – is to build on his performance against Chelsea.

“We know he’s got talent, but he’s got to start working hard for the team,” said Carver.

“He sees this as an opportunity, because he came over here as a little bit of a star in France and he’s come to Newcastle and not had many opportunities.

“He got an opportunity last week against one of the best sides in the Premier League and did very well, but he’s got to maintain that.”

Meanwhile, United pair Callum Roberts and Adam Campbell have joined Gateshead on month-long emergency youth loans.