Bent has been struggling with a knee ligament problem but his importance to the Addicks' Barclays Premiership survival hopes is such that Pardew has not lost a game with the striker in his team.

Pardew is wary of Bent doing more damage if he is brought back too early, although the 23-year-old offers their best attacking threat as they look to climb out of the bottom three.

"I will leave it until the very last minute to see if Darren can play. I

think our fans would expect that," said Pardew ahead of Sunday's clash at The Valley.

"With some players it would be a disservice to run it that close but he's that important to us, so we'll all be benefiting from it. The important thing is we look each other in the eye and both feel comfortable.

"It will be a real dilemma."

Regardless of whether he plays against Newcastle, Bent's fitness will then be placed in the hands of England's staff for the international break before the relegation battle resumes.

"We've got a two-week break after this game and although he gives us a greater percentage chance of winning the game, to lose him for the other games would be too big a blow," said Pardew.

"I want the national team to do very, very well, so if Darren is fit I'd love him to play. But he has to be fit. Whatever happens on Sunday, I'll send him to be assessed."

It has been two weeks since Charlton earned their draw against Watford, a break forced by the quarter-finals of the FA Cup which allowed Pardew to take his team paintballing.

"Kevin Lisbie got me a few times but he hasn't been playing so I'm not surprised," revealed Pardew.

"And (on-loan Arsenal man) Alex Song was a bit too aggressive as well. It may have been orders from Arsene Wenger."

Replays in the FA Cup mean Charlton's relegation rivals Watford and Manchester City may face weakened teams at Tottenham or Middlesbrough, but Pardew said: "What matters to me is the performance level.

"I have no problems with some players resting because it's physically impossible for some guys to play twice in two or three days."

Along with Bent's firepower, in Charlton's favour for an unlikely survival campaign is four points from their last two games, Manchester City's dreadful form and a favourable run-in compared to their rivals.

"I've looked at the games and feel we have a great chance," added Pardew, whose side are six points adrift of City.

The Charlton boss, who only took over at Christmas, also believes the club's perilous position when he was appointed took the pressure off and has now given his side a chance.

"Our fans had accepted that we were in a terrible situation," said Pardew.

"Their mindset was 'it will be a big bonus if we stay up' and I think that mindset is helping."