Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew rates skipper Fabricio Coloccini the best he has worked with.

Pardew thinks he does brilliantly.

"He's a Rolls Royce player and a Rolls Royce person too," the manager told The Journal. "He's a really nice fella. I'd seen him play internationally a few times and a few times for Newcastle before I came here, but you never appreciate what sort of player they are until you have spent three weeks with them on the training ground.

"I was pleasantly surprised at what a hardworking, disciplined footballer he was. This year he has been outstanding. I would definitely say he has been our best player. He's probably unfortunate he isn't getting selected for the national team.

"He's the best centre-back I've worked with."