Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants a reaction similar to that which followed defeat at Newcastle last season as his side travel to Tyneside again.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew insists there is no need to question Papiss Cisse's confidence after seeing the striker help fire his side to the top of Europa League Group D.

The first statement of the season; emphatic, comfortable and dominant. Newcastle have waited since August for their campaign to ignite. When Alan Pardew punched the air to celebrate his team's third goal, from the foot of the out-of-sorts Papiss Cissé, it felt like a gear change.

Newcastle United 3 Bordeaux 0

Newcastle United 3 Bordeaux 0

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has challenged his players to find their best form for a tough double-header against Bordeaux and Manchester United.

It felt like the Europa League had moved up a notch in terms of its significance in the North-east yesterday. That could have been down to the bold admission from Alan Pardew that his side is aiming to win it, the arrival of more credible opposition in Bordeaux or the potential problems when Newcastle United head to Club Brugge early next month.

Midfielder Yohan Cabaye has urged Newcastle to use the Europa League as a stepping stone towards sustained success after he did just that at Lille.

Italian club Fiorentina have dismissed reports that they have entered into negotiations with Arsenal over Marouane Chamakh.

Louis Saha is hoping Laurent Blanc stays as France coach beyond Euro 2012 despite being strongly linked with the vacant position at Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur have begun speaking to France manager Laurent Blanc as they start searching for a new manager to replace Harry Redknapp. Blanc, currently managing his country in Euro 2012, is thought to be one of a number of candidates for the vacant job at White Hart Lane.

The French Football Federation paid tribute to former Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord, who has announced his retirement.

Though it hangs on to the grit-smeared old title of city of a million roses, a bit like the Rhondda Valley claiming to be Tuscany West, this is a place which like few others on earth has always insisted on the hardest work – whether you were part of a slave labour force or just someone battling to survive in the mines or the steel plant.

Newcastle playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa is the eye-catching name among the initial list of 12 overseas-based players selected for France's Euro 2012 training squad.