NEWCASTLE UNITED legend Peter Beardsley has likened new signing Seydou Doumbia to Faustino Asprilla – despite the Ivorian being forced to wait for a first taste of Premier League action.

Doumbia is yet to appear for the Magpies first team since his deadline day loan switch from Roma but he was a first half appearance maker for the Under-21s on Monday night at St James’ Park.

And even though he was replaced at half-time during the 2-1 defeat. Doumbia’s first outing in a black and white shirt has led to Beardsley making the comparison with one of his former team-mates.

“Having had him with us Sunday and Monday the first thing I thought of was Tino Asprilla,” Under-21s boss Beardsley told the club website. “When we kicked off, he stepped over the ball and it was funny for me because obviously I used to play with Tino.

“As stupid as it sounds, that was the highlight of the game for me when he stepped over the ball. The crowd almost went one way and the ball went the other. Class.”

The 28-year-old completed his move to Newcastle from Roma after an agreement was reached to see his loan at CSKA Moscow terminated.

Head coach Steve McClaren is keen to see the forward build up his match fitness before throwing him into top-flight action, although he will be travelling to Chelsea this Saturday with the first team.

McClaren, hoping for a result at Stamford Bridge which keeps his side out of the bottom three, will then take his squad to Spain for some warmer weather training because of and 18-day competitive fixture gap.

And it has emerged that Newcastle, yet to confirm the meeting, have arranged a friendly with Norwegian club Lillestrom in La Manga Stadium on February 20 at 2pm (GMT).

Lillestrom have posted the details on their official website and it will be broadcast on Norwegian TV.

Newcastle travel to Chelsea this weekend but do not play again until Wednesday, March 2 when they head to Stoke City having been knocked out of the FA Cup and due to Manchester City’s involvement in the Capital One Cup final.