Newcastle 1 Club Brugge 0: Obertan has a big future, insists Pardew

Alan Pardew insisted Gabriel Obertan has a “big future” after the French winger scored Newcastle United’s winner against Club Brugge on Thursday night.

The former Manchester United star netted the only goal in the 48th minute to leave the Magpies in pole position in Group D and three points clear of their nearest rivals Bordeaux.

“That’s two good sides we’ve beaten here, make no mistake about it,” Pardew told Newcastle’s website.

“Brugge caused us a lot of trouble tonight but the guys have been doing terrific on the training ground and produced on the big stage – and that’s what it’s about.

“Ferguson and [Sammy] Ameobi have been great in training but you have got to play and deliver.

“And Obertan again, on a European night, showed his class. At 23, he’s got a big future, hopefully.

“We are trying to get the best out of him and he’s building slowly. Without him we wouldn’t have won these two games against Bordeaux and Brugge.”

He added: “I thought our passing was good in the first half, but we lacked a little bit of threat which is about nailing that system down.

“But in the second half, bringing Shola on was always going to unsettle them a little bit, which it did.

“Brugge showed why they are a good side because they came back at us. We had a couple of scares towards the end, and Harps and the defence had to play well.”

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