The former Magpies defender has looked on from afar in admiration as the club he represented in the Champions League in 2002-03 has dragged itself to within touching distance of the competition once again.

At worst, Newcastle will finish fifth in the Barclays Premier League in just their second season back in the top flight following a humiliating relegation and subsequent fightback, and their swift rise has taken most by surprise.

Dabizas said: "It's fantastic. Things weren't good two years ago and even at the beginning of the season, they were not very optimistic.

"But Newcastle United this season have the right balance. They are very organised, they don't concede easy goals and they always score, and that's the right mixture to have good results.

"As we all know, Newcastle United is an attacking team, so maybe this will always be a problem for the managers and players to get results because always the fans want you to attack and want to see attacking football.

"But football these days is all a matter of results. Now the team has a chance of a Champions League spot due to good organisation and some good knowledge from the manager and from the players as well.

"The most important thing for me is that they have kept the same players for the last two years. They have improved the team with two or three transfers every year, but the spine is the same.

"It's very important not to take out 10 players and bring 10 players in, you have to have a balance in that direction and Newcastle have in the last few years."

Astute transfer dealings have proved key with chief scout Graham Carr having excelled in recent seasons to find the likes of Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye, while a January swoop for striker Papiss Cisse could hardly have paid off more handsomely.

The Senegal international will head into Sunday's final day trip to Everton with 13 goals in as many games for his new club after a blistering start to his career in England.

Dabizas said: "Everybody talks about him at the minute and obviously, the lad is doing a great job for the club.

"But we have to be patient and see how it goes long-term. Short-term, you are going to be enthusiastic about this, but you have to see how it goes in the long-term.

"But the first signs are unbelievable. He is clinical, he can score goals, he's quick, he's clever, his attitude looks good. It's important to have these kind of players in the team.

"When they first brought him here with the price-tag he was carrying, a few eyebrows were raised and people were saying, 'Will he be worth it? Is £10million too much money these days?'.

"But for the time being, he is doing a very, very good job."

Dabizas was back on Tyneside this week to attend the unveiling of a statue to former manager Sir Bobby Robson.

He was one of Robson's blue-chip players, the men who formed the core of the side which finished fourth, third and fifth in the Premier League in successive seasons, and he believes Pardew has similar riches at his disposal.

He said: "[Fabricio] Coloccini at the back - although he is not very, very physical, his reading of the game is excellent and whenever it comes to taking good decisions, he is always there.

"You have people who can produce - Cabaye is a creative midfield player who can bring good final passes and good technical football, which is a good sign as well, and you have Cisse and [Demba] Ba up front, which is a very, very good pair."