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Premier League: Newcastle boss Pardew prepared for more Erik Lamela magic

Image: Alan Pardew: Newcastle manager is ready for any magic from Spurs' man-of-the-moment Erik Lamela

Alan Pardew is confident his Newcastle players can outshine Spurs’ man-of-the-moment Erik Lamela on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Argentina international scored an outrageous "rabona" goal in his side's 5-1 demolition of Greek side Asteras Tripoli in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Pardew takes his team to White Hart Lane this weekend on guard for a repeat, but the 53-year-old is confident there is the talent within his own squad to produce something equally audacious.

"It was amazing,” he said. “I haven't really seen that on the training ground when the ball is coming across like that, at that pace. To hit it like that was amazing.

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"We have one or two who can do it from a dead ball situation when they just manoeuvre it, but I don't think I have ever seen a goal quite like that in training, let alone in a match.

"Spurs have great players - they have always had great individuals. But so do we, and we have got to hope that our individual players stand up and produce a moment like that.

"Papiss' [Cisse] goal at Swansea, although it did not look as technical as Lamela's, was of a similar vein, I thought. It was a great moment.

"We have got to hope we have one or two of them on Sunday rather than the Spurs players."

Newcastle have fond memories of White Hart Lane, having won their last season, although Pardew will hope his goalkeeper Tim Krul is not as busy on Sunday as he was then.

The Holland international pulled of a staggering 14 saves to ensure Loic Remy's early strike was enough to claim the points, in the process earning the plaudits of his manager and team-mates alike.

Pardew said: "I do hope he has a quieter afternoon. He had to produce three really outstanding saves. It was his top performance of last year.

"Tim is a player who is going to get even better. That is the beauty with him. He has great experience already but with age, keepers improve. They understand the angles and opposition players more as they grow older.

"As long as they do not lose that spring and alertness - and Tim is too young for that - they are going to improve, and Tim goes back there an even better player."

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was among the crowd at White Hart Lane on Thursday evening so will know exactly what to expect at the end of a week during which the club's board confirmed to a fans' forum that a top-10 finish would once again be the minimum aim this season.

Pardew said: "It is always difficult to challenge Champions League teams, but we try to do that. Obviously we are a long way from that at the moment and are thinking of nothing more than the next game.

"I know that is a cliche, but that is where we are at the moment."

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