Arsenal legend Ian Wright is delighted for Alan Pardew over his success at Newcastle United.

Wright played with Pardew for Crystal Palace.

He wrote in The Sun: "He sold a few 'headline' players, but now he's got a squad packed with spirit and a determination to play for each other.

"Pards has always been confident in his own ability. He proved it again at West Ham, when he wasn't the fans' choice, but took them within a whisker of winning the FA Cup.

"I do think all this recent talk of Pardew for England is premature. Yet if, as many think, Harry Redknapp gets the job it would be great if Alan went along - even if it's just to observe - to get the vibe of international football, and dealing with massive personalities.

"When we were at Palace, he wasn't one of the players you'd pick out as a future manager. But he goes about it the same way he did all those years ago at Selhurst Park - with honestly, belief and a huge appetite for graft, and I'm so proud of him.

"It may be a few months before Pards can say for certain he's had the last laugh. But I bet he's having a few chuckles already at proving so many people to be so wrong."