Potter Pardew

Alan Pardew has revealed that one way he judges players has been borrowed from the pages of Harry Potter, in which JK Rowling's teenage wizard is terrified by beings with the power to suck out their victim's souls.

He said: "I surround myself with strong characters, winners and people who I like to think have good, sensible morals. I include all my staff and players in that, and if I don't see it in an individual, then I get rid of that person. I don't like people who drain my time and energy. If you've seen the Harry Potter films, we use the term 'dementors' - people who can draw the life out of you in terms of your energy."