Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has praised one - cap Nigeria international Shola Ameobi for his late winner against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Ameobi, who made Nigeria's preliminary African Cup of Nations roster, came off the bench to score in the 81st minute, his first goal in the EPL after 18 rounds.

''I know the crowd weren't particularly pleased when I took Cisse, a goalscorer, off but I just felt Shola... he's a big man and this was a big occasion and he likes big occasions.

''It said QPR on the programme but really it was bigger than that, I think we all knew that and he has that calm head - he knows what is demanded here - to produce a quality goal, and it won us the game,'' Pardew was quoted as saying by the online edition of Daily Mail.

Shola Ameobi could miss games against Norwich, Reading, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Spurs if he is selected by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for the African Cup and the Super Eagles progress to the finals of the competition.

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