Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has taken a swipe at the ex-players brigade in the media that have questioned James Milner's resting.

He said: "Today's game, contrary to what some people looking in from the outside think, is the hardest it's ever been.

"You have bigger squads than ever before because they need to be and contrary to whatever the old boys say, they're all talking from the hugely distant past.

"I'm talking about now. The game has moved on from a scientific point of view, and without that understanding you can't be successful."