Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has declared that Hatem Ben Arfa is an "x-factor" player currently enjoying the form of his life.

Pardew singled out the French international for special praise and said that he has been Newcastle's best player in the early matches of this season.

He told Sky Sports News: "Hatem has been our best player this season.

"He's single-minded and focused about being a professional footballer and a lot of players could learn from him in terms of that. He's still a maverick, though, and that's the beauty of him.

"I don't think there are many players with that X-factor, if I'm honest, but Hatem is one of them."

The Magpies finish the fourth round of Premier League fixtures with a trip to Everton on Monday, September 17.