Gerard Houllier: 'French contingent will create problems at Newcastle'

Gerard Houllier has claimed that the number of French players at Newcastle United could create problems at the club.

Manager Alan Pardew had signed Mathieu Debuchy and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in January before completing a deal to bring fellow Frenchman Yoan Gouffran to the club on Wednesday.

However, Houllier believes that having 15 French-speaking players in the same dressing room could cause problems.

The former Liverpool manager said: "You can't stop the French speaking French.

"The dressing room will be unbalanced. There will be problems."

Newcastle are currently 16th in the Premier League, just two points above the relegation zone.