Alan Pardew has insisted that Gabriel Obertan can be a "great player" for Newcastle United after he ended his two-year goal drought in the Premier League.
The Frenchman scored the only goal as the Magpies recorded a first victory of the Premier League season by beating Leicester City 1-0 on Saturday.
Pardew told the Evening Chronicle: "He's a player who needs to build his own self-confidence. He has been terrific for us this season and I had a feeling that he could come in and still be a great player, Gabby.
"He's only a young player, you look at his age and he's had tremendous experience. He needs to deliver and if he can keep his confidence high. I was so pleased he got the goal. It capped a great display.
"Also he had a lot of niggly injuries that meant his momentum kept getting stalled but when we finished fifth, he played a big part in that season and I never forgot that. Being a young player, sometimes you have to wait, it doesn't always fall into place. He has been terrific and he certainly warrants a start in this team."
Despite the win, Newcastle remain in the relegation zone, with seven points from eight games.
Sian Cowper
