Alan Pardew insists Adam Lallana is in with a genuine shout of making the England World Cup squad.

The former Saints boss was impressed by his one-time St Mary’s charge after the skipper rose from the bench at half time to inspire his team to a point at St James’ Park.

Lallana has put himself into Roy Hodgson’s reckoning for the plane to Brazil and Pardew wouldn’t be surprised if he made the trip.

“He’s a different sort of player to the other English boys they’ve got,” said the Newcastle chief.

“He made a little difference when he came on for sure.

“He’s definitely got a chance of going to the World Cup and he proved that to the Newcastle faithful in that second half.

“Having said that, we had great chances in the second half to have won that.

“Hatem (Ben Arfa) came on and I was very reluctant to take Gouff (Youn Gouffran) off, he was terrific again, and Hatem nearly opened the door.

“It was that close a game.

“I don’t what their manager has said, but I’m sure he was very proud of his team and I am too.”

There’s was a bizarre moment in the game as referee Mike Jones was-pole axed by an accidental slap in the face from Moussa Sissoko that left him with blood coming from his nose.

“The ref’s got a bloody nose. He’s trying to patch himself up for the Christmas party,” joked Pardew.

“He took it in good heart really. He realised it was a bit of a flick out at the goalie who had flicked out at him and it was all a bit silly.

“Unfortunately he ended up with a bloody nose.”

Pardew added: “It was a terrific game.

“We had a hold of the game, they had a hold of the game, we got a grip back.

“I’m pleased in a lot of respects that our momentum goes on because it was a great performance in a lot of ways.

“We had two big chances that fell to Loic (Remy) and he played well, but those two chances I expect him to take.

“That can be the difference in a game as tight as that, and it probably cost us.”