NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has admitted an FA misconduct charge after appearing to headbutt Hull City midfielder David Meyler during Saturday's game at the KC Stadium.

However, the Magpies manager has requested a personal hearing in order to provide mitigation for his actions.

The date of the hearing will be confirmed in due course, but is likely to be one day next week.

Pardew was charged by the FA on Monday, two days after his latest touchline spat.

The Magpies were leading 3-1 at the KC Stadium and well on their way to a 4-1 Barclays Premier League victory when he and Meyler came into contact as the Tigers man chased a ball out of play close to the Newcastle manager's technical area.

Pardew reacted angrily and thrust his head towards Meylers prompting an unsavoury melee.

Match referee Kevin Friend cautioned the player for his part in the incident and then sent Pardew to the stands, from where he watched the remainder of the game.

Pardew later issued a contrite apology, but his club responded within hours, warning him that his behaviour had been unacceptable and fining him £100,000.

That was the end of the matter as far as they were concerned, with sources on Tyneside quick to dismiss suggestions that the manager would be sacked as a result of his actions.

Humberside Police also decided there was no need for them to be involved, confirming there would be no criminal proceedings with neither Meyler nor Hull making a formal complaint.

However, that was never likely to be enough for the football authorities and, despite his guilty plea, Pardew seems certain to face stringent punishment.

His chequered recent history on the sideline - he has clashed with former Sunderland counterpart Martin O'Neill and Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini, as well as pushing assistant referee Peter Kirkup - will not do him any favours, with the FA treating his latest offence as a non-standard misdemeanour.

It is understood a stadium ban, which would prevent him from watching his own team's games in person, is a distinct possibility.

Newcastle are not in action this weekend, but will resume at struggling Fulham next Saturday looking for a third successive victory.

Whether Pardew will be there or not remains to be seen, and assistant John Carver could find himself thrust into the limelight.

The Magpies currently sit in eighth place in the Premier League table, two points behind Manchester United and a further three adrift of the top six.

That is a significantly healthier position than the one in which they found themselves 12 months ago and they fought to retain their top-flight status, eventually finishing in 16th place with just 41 points, two fewer than they now have with ten games still to play.