Alan Pardew confident of keeping key players

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is confident that he won't lose any key players from his squad before the end of the transfer window.

Midfielder Cheick Tiote has been linked with moves to Arsenal and Lokomotiv Moscow, but the 53-year-old believes that he has no reason to be worried as the final week of the window approaches.

He told reporters: "I don't think I'm going to lose a big player and I certainly hope – fingers crossed after Andy Carroll – that continues.

"The last two or three years, we've lost key players and the ones who've gone in just haven't been able to carry the flag. We feel we've done good business this summer though and we've got a good solid team."

The Magpies earned their first point of the season on Saturday in their 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.