SAM Allardyce has geared up for tomorrow's Tees-Tyne derby by insisting he still has a long way to go before he knows what his first choice XI will be.

The Newcastle boss admitted he is only "50 per cent" along the road to really knowing his players and still wants new faces in before the transfer window closes in a week's time.

The former Bolton boss has introduced his favoured 4-3-3 formation to the Magpies team with a promising winning start at Bolton followed up by a 0-0 home draw against Aston Villa.

And Allardyce remains committed to working on the basics as he looks to build a Newcastle United team to his formula.

"I am only 50 per cent where I want to be with these players," said Allardyce, who hopes to bring the versatile defensive midfielder Abdoulaye Faye in from Bolton early next week.

"I am still learning about them, they are still learning about me. I am still looking at the basics of getting it right on a week in, week out basis.

"If I have to say anything, the more basics we get right week in week out, the more matches we win, the more confidence grows."

Confidence will be further boosted by a win at neighbours Middlesbrough tomorrow, and Allardyce believes his side will be going into the match as favourites.

It's a situation Allardyce was not used to during his spell at the Reebok Stadium.

"At Bolton, Blackburn has not been so bad (derby record) recently, Wigan has not been so good, that's only down the road. Manchester City has been good.

"I suppose for the first time - in a derby match up here - I am in the reverse.

"I'm the big guy or we're the big guys and so if we're the big guys, we have to make sure we win, don't we?

"Does that change things? The players know what is expected of them in a derby.

"If you make sure you keep the basics right you win more games than you lose, none more so than a derby match, where the hype might get you carried away.

"Nearly everyone who is playing for us has lots of Premier League experience and knows what they have to draw on when it comes round to a derby day.

"They know what the fans want from them.

"They want passion and commitment as much as skill and ability so we have to combine them both together."

Allardyce is expected to resist the temptation of starting with Michael Owen, who played 57 minutes in England's 2-1 defeat against Germany in midweek.

Owen started the game at Wembley playing up front with club team-mate Alan Smith, and the Newcastle boss admits that is another option he is likely to consider this season.

"Watching England with Alan Smith up there with Michael Owen, the nice thing for us is I could see whether that combination looks like one that will work," said Allardyce.

"I can see Alan Smith playing in a number of positions for us. Because he has so many different qualities to put himself in different positions, he can be just as good anywhere he plays.

"That is hugely valuable for us as a team.

"But just watching him play up front with Owen is very interesting for me because at some stage in the season, if we get decimated by injuries on the front-line, that is a combination I can look on and say 'I remember the England v Germany game so I can play those two together and they can be successful for us'."

Allardyce, meanwhile, is lining up defender Jose Enrique to make his Newcastle bow in the Carling Cup against Barnsley next week.

The £4m signing from Villarreal is close to fitness but will not be considered for tomorrow's game.

"Enrique needs to get a behind-closed-doors game and then there is the Barnsley match coming up which might be interesting from that point of view," said the Magpies manager.

"There are one or two other players who are fit again so Barnsley could be a big game for us.

"A big game to get through to the next round and a big game for some players to get back into the match fitness."