Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is delighted with Vurnon Anita's progress.
The midfielder featured in the stalemate with West Ham United on Saturday.
"I said to Vurnon last year, with the pace, the toing and frowing, the power in the Premier League, he needed to get a grip of it because it bypassed him at times," said Pardew.
"We've worked a little bit harder on him in the summer and talked about certain things. When he brings his game to this team, as he did today, he can be an asset for us.
"He is very much a big part of what we are going to do. We've spent a lot of money on him, invested in him and invested time in him to help him."
