Antoine Sibierski has backed former teammate Patrick Vieira to take over as manager of Newcastle United.

Reports regarding Vieira's potential move to become the next manager at St James' Park have been gathering momentum in recent days.

Despite Vieira's lack of experience of managing in the Premier League, the Newcastle fans are largely in favour of the Manchester City coach being awarded the job, while former defender Olivier Bernard has also backed the Frenchman as a good candidate to succeed John Carver.

Now former teammate Sibierski has also moved on to state his belief that Vieira could be a good choice for the managerial role at Newcastle and insisted that his lack of experience as a manager should not be a concern.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Sibierski said: "He's worked with the reserves at Man City and he has been learning the job.

"He expects one day to be a first team manager and I think he's had a lot of interest in the last few months and last year. But he is looking forward to getting the right opportunity and getting the right club. I believe he could be a very interested or he wouldn't talk to Newcastle.

"Why not? He's young and hungry and he knows the Premier League perfectly and the French market which Newcastle are already very active in. I know Patrick and played with him for the French Under-21 team and at the Olympics. He should be on the shortlist. He is a big enough character to handle it.

"There's no doubt about that for me. He has the knowledge, he has the character, he's got everything to be a manager for a club like Newcastle United."