Habib Beye says Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce - and the Premiership's all-action style - convinced him about moving from Olympique Marseille.

"It was important for me to play in the Premiership - Middlesbrough wanted me a few years ago - and I was even more certain of that after I had spoken to Sam," Beye told the Sunday Sun.

"I had contact with him early in the summer but I had a contract with Marseilles and it was difficult for me to leave because I was captain and we were in the Champions League.

"But I spoke to Sam again. He said: 'I want you to come to Newcastle - you can be a very big player for me.'

"Then I spoke with the club owner and my manager and I said I wanted to go to Newcastle because I'd played for Marseilles for four years, given my best for the club and, for me, it was better to go and test myself in an English team and in the Premiership.

"Sam also wanted me when he was at Bolton. It was very important for me that he had confidence in me."

Beye added: "I had an offer to go to a big Spanish club, but the football there is too slow for me.

"After three games here, I'm very pleased with the choice I've made."