Pardew hails young guns

Pardew made nine changes to the side that drew 1-1 at fierce rival Sunderland in the English Premier League and his fringe players certainly did not disappoint as Newcastle went three points clear atop Group D.

Gabriel Obertan scored the only goal of the game three minutes after the interval after excellent work from 20-year-old Sammy Ameobi, who was a constant menace for the Belgian side's defenders, while Shane Ferguson also shone.

"It was a great performance because that's a good team," Pardew told ESPN.

"They keep the ball very, very well and that's why they're top of the league, they've got experience in the team.

"But our young players shone tonight and that's what it was about. I showed faith in them because they've been doing it on the training ground.

"Do it on the training ground and you've got a chance of performing on the big stage and Sammy and Fergie have been terrific in training and they took it into the game and that's perfect for a manager."

Pardew singled out goalscorer Obertan for special praise and added they have been grateful for the Frenchman's last two performances after he also sparkled in the Toon's last European encounter against former club Bordeaux.

"This is a guy that everybody thinks is 26, 27 because he's been in the English game so long," Pardew added.

"He's hardly played any games, he's still only 23. He has a fantastic future and the last two European games we owe him a big debt because we wouldn't have won without him.

"He's been terrific for us and hopefully he'll play a bigger part in the Premier League as we go along."