Former Nottingham Forest chief Mick Harford insists James Perch is good enough for Newcastle United.
Perch's own goal cost Newcastle a point at home to Stoke, but he came back to deliver a decent display at Manchester City seven days ago.
"At least he got his head on it!" was Harford's verdict on the own goal that cost United a fortnight ago.
He told the Sunday Sun: "Seriously, though, I worked with James four or five years ago when he was just coming through the ranks at Forest.
"The own goal was just one of these things. I wouldn't call it an error because if he didn't head it, there was someone who was going to.
"You can almost forgive someone something like that - he wanted to get the ball. Back when I was his manager he didn't have a position for himself.
"I think he was playing in midfield, centre-back and right-back, but he needed to find himself a position and now right-back is very much where he plays.
"Is he good enough? Yes, I think he is. He's a committed lad and he has done ever so well to get himself to a big, big club like Newcastle.
"He's a strong lad - you had to be to come through at Forest at that time - and he will prove that for Newcastle.
"It's a big, big opportunity and now he has to take it. These kind of chances don't come along very often."
