Under Sam Allardyce, James Milner feels the most settled he's ever been at Newcastle United.

Milner - who has now played under FOUR managers in his three years at Newcastle - told the Evening Chronicle: "I am very optimistic about the future.

"I have had a lot of managers in my four years at Newcastle and things that have changed - but nothing like the direction the club is going now.

"The new manager has come in and it has been a massive alteration in the set-up.

"You can see further changes and that can only be a good thing.

"We are doing the right things in terms of preparation on and off the field."

Milner - who was rewarded with a four-year contract by Big Sam in the summer - added: "We are more organised in training ahead of games and the set up is better than it was.

"In fact, it is the best since I have been here.

"I have been speaking to the other lads and they say the set-up is better than at other clubs and one of the best around.

"The manager did a great job at Bolton and, with the players we have here, there is no reason why we cannot do better than they did."