Jose Enrique is impressed by fellow Newcastle United left-back Shane Ferguson.

Enrique has backed Chris Hughton's cup policy to pay dividends in the future.

The £6m former La Liga star told the Evening Chronicle: "Fergie is doing very well.

"It is very important that they play, and if that means in the Carling Cup then OK, it's good for their experience.

"He needs to get minutes. It was the same for me a few years ago at Villarreal - they gave me minutes in the cup games. It does you the world of good.

"Training hard is important, but you can't buy the experience of playing games."