Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is confident they can handle the Russian conditions at Europa League opponents Anzhi.

Newcastle arrived in a wintry Moscow with their manager in particular in positive mood after three days training on the similar 4G pitch at Druid Park, home of Gosforth Rugby Football Club.

He said with a smile: "I'm looking forward to playing somewhere warmer than Newcastle, so that's one good thing.

"We have practised with the squad for three days on the surface and we will have a little experience of it tonight, so we have prepared ourselves.

"And we have got good technical players - you have to be very, very highly technical on an astroturf pitch, and we have technical players, and I will side with those tomorrow in this team."