ALAN PARDEW has handed his former assistant at Newcastle United, John Carver, a return to the Premier League after taking on the West Bromwich Albion job.

Pardew, who was not at The Hawthorns on Tuesday night to watch the Baggies draw 2-2 with the Magpies, has been appointed as Tony Pulis’ successor.

And the new West Brom boss was quick to bring in Carver - who left Newcastle in June 2015 after a long association, having failed to deliver the results that would have seen him succeed Pardew on a long term basis.

Now Carver, a former assistant to Sir Bobby Robson too, will be working with Pardew again at West Brom having also had a spell in charge of Cypriot club Omonia before that came to an end in February.

“In his managerial experience at Newcastle, John Carver understood what it’s like as a manager,” Pardew explained. “We both coach. We can bring good experience and good game plans to this group. In his managerial experience at Newcastle, John Carver understood what it’s like as a manager.

“John has a manner around the training ground that I and the players respect. John’s been a brilliant assistant manager. He has a good understanding of the pressures I will come under.”

Pardew left Newcastle to take over at Crystal Palace over the 2014/15 festive period, but was sacked at Selhurst Park in December last year. He is now tasked with keeping West Brom in the top-flight, like he successfully achieved with Eagles in his first year.

The 56-year-old said: “Experience is important. I average 1.3 points per game. We have a history of delivering. I took Palace from relegation to tenth. These things have to be taken into account.

“It’s so difficult in the Premier League to win the league or win trophies because of the finances of the top clubs.

“You have to have those ambitions as difficult as it is though. One day I’d like to win a trophy.

“The immediate target is to halt this run, get some points on the board and to try to put ourselves in a position where we can attack the top ten if possible.”

Newcastle’s Under-23s have defeated Swansea 6-3 at the club’s academy on Tyneside. Tom Heardman scored four, while forgotten midfielder Jack Colback and Callum Roberts were also on target in the Premier League Cup tie.