Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew never had any doubts about Hatem Ben Arfa.

Pardew pushed through a permanent deal despite the midfielder being months away from a return and having seen him only second-hand, with his performance and winning goal at Everton a particular highlight of the manager's research.

Asked what had prompted his decision, he said: "It was the tape of the Everton game and the goal.

"The little history I did about him in France was enough to convince me that he had massive talent.

"It was just a question of whether I could work with him and get into his head, and I felt I could do that with the experience I'd had of Yossi Benayoun, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Teddy Sheringham, and fortunately it seems to have worked out."