Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has no fear facing the top two in the coming weeks.

After the international recess, Pardew's men will resume the league programme with intensely difficult trips to Manchester City and Manchester United on successive weekends before Chelsea head for Tyneside, but he is confident they will head for the Etihad Stadium determined they can return with something to show for their efforts.

He said: "All I do know is that if you are going to go somewhere to like that, you want to be in the mood we are in.

"Whatever I put in front of them, they think they are going to win. That inner belief is very, very important.

"After Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City might be second or third in that group of the best in Europe.

"We are going to the best in Europe in the next two games and we couldn't be better-placed to do it."