Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is convinced of the quality of former Ajax midfielder Vurnon Anita.

Anita was handed a start for last night's 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

Pardew told the Sunday Sun: "We've got one at the moment, Vurnon Anita, a player with fantastic technical ability.

"But he's found it a struggle so far with the pace of the Premier League, the same as Cabaye and Santon.

"So Vernon is one we've got to be patient with. We've paid a lot of money for him by our standards so it's about constant patience, constantly working and hopefully at the same time getting results. That has to go hand in hand."