Newcastle United chief Peter Beardsley has welcomed their new French signings.

Beardsley is convinced of the quality of their French contingent.

"Sissoko is getting the headlines, but Haidara was fantastic in Europe and he's been fantastic in training," he told the Evening Chronicle.

"But obviously Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is a top player.

"Gouffran is great too, and Debuchy reminds me of Marc Hottiger.

"I loved him, and Debuchy is the same. He's a bit tougher than Marc and I actually said that to him last week. I joked 'We've even got a better full-back than you'."