Big Sam doesn't know best side

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has admitted that he is yet to decide upon his best side yet. Allardyce, who was earlier with Bolton Wanderers, joined the Magpies during close season and brought in several players in the transfer window.

He told the official club website: "I don't know what my strongest side is just yet but, as each game goes by, you get a little closer.

"We're not at our best yet, but the fact that we're all new together is the reason why.

"The encouraging side of that is, certainly at home, we've been a dominant force against the teams that we've played."