Andre Villas-Boas has said that Newcastle will provide an excellent challenge for his Chelsea side when the Blues travel to the Sports Direct Arena this weekend.

Newcastle are currently one place above the London outfit in fourth place in the Premier League, and the former Porto boss has backed them to continue to surprise as the season goes on.

"Pardew has brought serenity to Newcastle," he said. "In the past couple of years they've been in turmoil with managers and relegation and [being] sold to another owner.

"But now there is empathy with the city and the club. They play good football - the way teams want to play.

"It's an excellent challenge for us. This [match] is away against a team which is surprising everybody and which I think will continue to surprise."

Chelsea can jump two points ahead of Alan Pardew's outfit with a win.