AYOZE PEREZ’S team-mates at Newcastle United think the Spanish hot-shot could soon have Premier League defences paying extra attention to him after a blistering start to life in England.

Perez’s audacious flick to put the Magpies on course for a fifth consecutive win at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday was his third goal in as many matches.

The 21-year-old has already become a fans’ favourite on Tyneside and legendary No 9 Alan Shearer lavished praise on him after his display at the Hawthorns.

Shearer not only paid tribute to Perez’s work-rate and decision making, he also suggested that had “(Sergio) Aguero scored that we’d be talking about it for weeks” having watched the youngster’s brilliant opener at West Brom.

The challenge now facing the £1.5m bargain buy from Tenerife is to maintain the high standards he has set in recent weeks.

And after finding the net in victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and West Brom, Newcastle midfielder Mehdi Abeid thinks Perez will be a marked man – even if he does have the ability to deal with it.

“If he continues like this he can be a big player for us,” said Abeid. “He needs to score, he is very technical, a very good player, and we know he can do big things for us even if more teams know about him now and how he will play.”

Abeid and the rest of the Newcastle dressing room were well aware of Perez’s talent as soon as he started to train with the squad following his switch from the Spanish Second Division.

Eyebrows were raised on Tyneside when Newcastle moved for him when it was felt a more experienced targetman was required following the departures of Loic Remy and Shola Ameobi.

“He's good, he is scoring for us and it is what we're asking from him,” said Abeid. “We're really pleased with what he's doing and he helping us a lot.

“We always knew he was a very, very good player, we are really happy for him and I hope he will score a lot more for us. It was just going to take time in the Premier League for him to get a chance.

“His goal at West Brom was really technical and we can see in training he can do that because he shows some great skills and he showed it again with that goal.”

Abeid, like Perez, has also embarked on his own step on to the first team stage during the recent revival and he will take some dislodging on the evidence of his displays at the hub of the midfield.

The 22-year-old has had to bide his time since his switch from Lens in May 2011 and looked destined to leave on a permanent basis last summer following a successful loan at Panathinaikos.

A failure to meet the asking price resulted in him staying put and now Abeid, who has joined up with the Algerian squad for the first time this week, has been instrumental in Newcastle’s renaissance.

“A lot has changed for me, I've been out on loan a lot and I have come back here to have some time to play and show the manager and the club I can play for them. I am really happy,” said Abeid, who also had a temporary stint at St Johnstone.

“I knew I had to play football and that's what I went and did, to play football and enjoy my time. I got a lot of experience, I learned a lot and I came back with a strong mentality and a strong character. I have always been working and I'm happy for it.

“The manager said I have to keep doing what I'm doing but I have to concentrate, to work hard every day and I will get a chance. I had my chance last week, I try to do my best and it's working so I am very pleased with that.”

Newcastle climbed up to eighth in the Premier League after collecting 13 points from the last 15. Abeid, who made more successful passes than any other player on the pitch at the Hawthorns, has had a key role in defeating West Brom and Liverpool.

The former French youth international, who hopes to keep his place against QPR a week on Saturday despite Cheik Tiote’s expected return from injury, said: “We always work to have success and this time it's working. We have to keep showing we're a good team and we can do our best every game. Sunday was a great win for the team.”

Abeid’s form has contributed to the likelihood of defensive midfielder Gael Bigirimana leaving. The former Coventry man, who moved to Tyneside in 2011, has slipped out of Pardew’s plans and is training with Yeovil Town with a view to an initial loan move.