Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is confident Steven Taylor will be fit for their season opener.

Taylor has not featured in pre-season thus far.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "He's fine - that's the really good news.

"You're going to get tweaks when you've been out as long as him. It's a slight hamstring tweak - it's nothing.

"He's got plenty of time - he's fit. He's double fit. He's in the best shape he's ever been in.

"Physically, for him, pre-season's a non-event.

"Mentally, he needs to get himself back in order."