Newcastle United coach Peter Beardsley had a wasted trip to London this week.

The Daily Mail says Beardsley was left red-faced on Monday night after making the 600-mile round trip to London to watch Wilfried Zaha - only to discover the Crystal Palace starlet was suspended.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew intends to bid for the £10million-rated forward next month.

And Beardsley, who is Newcastle's head of recruitment for their academy and development squads, made the trip down to south London with the intention of running the rule over the talented teenager against Birmingham.

However, the former England international was left disappointed upon his arrival at Selhurst Park, with Zaha, 19, ruled out of the clash through suspension.

Beardsley instead turned his attention to Zaha's team-mate Nathaniel Clyne who is also on the Magpies' radar.