Mehdi Abeid has played down the prospect of leaving Newcastle United on-loan in January.

While a possible loan deal was thought to be an option for Abeid earlier in the season, Alan Pardew knows that the Algerian Under-23 international is too close to the first-team picture to be sacrificed.

The level-headed Abeid told the Evening Chronicle: "The aim is for me to stay here and learn the game with big players.

"My chance will come, but in the meantime it's a great place to learn."