His former teams clash

the Premier League, I think it has to be survival. That will be the be all and end all for all three promoted clubs, survival and then build from there. I don’t think they will think ‘let’s finish in the top 10’, they will be thinking survival.”

The team Ferdinand was part of was nicknamed The Entertainers and was made up of players such as David Ginola and Peter Beardsley and Ferdinand knows just how much the fans like their flare players – pointing out Matt Ritchie as one to watch.

He said: “I’d start at Matt Ritchie, plenty of quality, a player with Premier League experience at Bournemouth and now a Scotland international. It’s a massive season for striker Dwight Gayle because we’ve seen him score goals in the Championship, but he didn’t quite get that opportunity when he was in the Premier League at Palace, although when he did play, he was a danger.

“He will get the opportunity now to show his true credentials in the Premier League.

“Jacob Murphy is a very good player they’ve signed from Norwich, he’s got a real chance. He’ll relish it at Newcastle with the reception he’ll get – he’ll understand what football means up there.” Les Ferdinand in his United days with strike partner Alan Shearer