Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce admits his new-look side is 'well ahead of schedule'.

Allardyce has overhauled his team since taking charge of the St James' Park reins in the summer but saw them secure a 3-1 win over Tottenham on Monday night.

Six of Allardyce's close season recruits started the match - including the entire back four - to show they have settled well, but the Newcastle boss has warned that his side have sterner tests to come.

"If we can get something against Reading (on Saturday) - if we can actually beat Reading, then we would be well ahead of the schedule, I would say," Allardyce said.

"But we still have big teams to come. We have not played them yet, but where Tottenham have finished over the last two years, they are a big side and they have spent big, big money over the last four years and have big players, but we beat them comfortably 3-1."