Alan Pardew impressed by "intelligent" Southampton youngsters

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has praised Southampton for regularly producing "intelligent" young players.

A number of international players started their career with Southampton, including Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, and Pardew believes that the local area is a key reason for the success that the club's academy has enjoyed.

"They have a huge catchment area and it's a different type of catchment area," Pardew told reporters. "There is a big working class community, but there are a lot of middle class kids who have a good education.

"The players who come out of Southampton are quite intelligent and there might be something in that.

"We have to put more intelligence into our players and that's another side of the Academy."

Newcastle face Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday afternoon.