Pardew hopes Ba will stay

Pardew is keen to tie the 27-year-old Senegal international to a long-term contract but negotiations are frustrating as the striker has a condition in his contract which can be activated in any transfer window by a club that wants to take advantage of it.

Ba has already scored ten goals this season after grabbing a brace in the 3-0 win against the Latics, but his current Newcastle deal expires in 2014.

Pardew explained after the match: "Demba is a player who loves it here and he understands it is a football city. We've tried to do a deal with him and take the clause out and that's probably where the speculation is.

"The clause is always hanging over us and it makes it difficult for us, the club and him. We accept that and that's the way football is.

"He has been brilliant for us. I have tried to encourage him to be more vocal in the dressing room because he's a leader, but the ten goals is a nice target for him."

Newcastle, who had lost their previous four Premier League matches, were helped by the 12th-minute dismissal of Latics defender Maynor Figueroa after he had brought down Papiss Cisse in the box.

Ba smashed home the penalty and added a second eight minutes later before Gael Bigirimana scored the third goal in the 71st minute.

Wigan have now lost four of their last five games and are just two points above the relegation zone. Roberto Martinez's side are 3.25 to finish in the bottom three this season, while Newcastle are available at 15.00 to go down.