Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is impressed by the leadership skills of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Pardew could hand the Frenchman the captain's armband this season in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini.

Pardew told the Evening Chronicle: "He's a leader.

"That hasn't really come out so far because of the language barrier. But you can see in him why he has been a captain at other clubs.

"And I wanted to reflect that."