Newcastle United winger Damien Duff has criticised former manager Sam Allardyce's scientific approach to fitness.

He admitted: "We've been working hard and as the gaffer said in the meeting this morning, training has been getting better every week. I don't think we were the fittest before he came here. I know Big Sam used to say we were the fittest around, but I think we were far from it. It's going to take a while for the gaffer to put his stamp on things.

"I think one of his quotes was that the work you put in on the training pitch comes out on a Saturday. That's what we've been doing since he came in. It's been hard work and I think that's what we needed.

"There's definitely a buzz around and rightly so; he's a legend here.

"He's the most positive person I've ever met. He's done great work, but we need to start taking it out on to the pitch results-wise. It's great working with him and I'm loving every minute of it - I'm just desperate to get that first win for him."