Pablo Zabaleta surprised by Newcastle United's poor start to the season

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has admitted that he expected Newcastle United to be placed higher in the Premier League table at this stage of the season.

Newcastle have earned just three points from seven games, but Zabaleta feels that the Magpies should have built on their near miss at the bottom of the standings last season, where they only avoided relegation on the final day of the campaign.

The 30-year-old told the club's official website: "I'm very surprised to see Newcastle where they are because of the experience they had towards the end of last season.

"After that situation, you expect to bring in new players - which has happened - but the results haven't been good so far, though there was a definite improvement against Chelsea last weekend."

Zabaleta could be handed his first Premier League appearance on Saturday after coming off the bench against Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday night.