Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that his team will have to overcome a strong Anzhi Makhachkala side if they are to reach the Europa League quarter-finals.

The Magpies face Guus Hiddink's outfit at the Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday evening in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Having witnessed his team defeat Metalist Kharkiv 1-0 a fortnight ago, Pardew said that he is expecting a tougher assignment in Russia.

"It would be massive if we could beat this team because they are a really strong side," ITV Sport quotes him as saying.

"It's really now down to where every team left in that Europa League now is focusing on it probably as their primary objective.

"I can't think of too many clubs in it for whom it's not at the top of their agenda, so there's now a real focus on that competition."

Newcastle lost 1-0 at Swansea City in the Premier League on Saturday.