A plan de la ville is a map in French and Newcastle United's new Gallic signings were part of Alan Pardew's squad as he mapped out a way to beat Aston Villa this week.

Massadio Haidara, Yohan Gouffron, Moussa Sissoko and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa were all involved in training on Monday morning before the side flew to Birmingham on the afternoon ahead of Tuesday night's big game.

Pardew has hinted that at least three of them could figure at Villa Park and they were all eager to make their mark at the club's Benton headquarters.

But while they're the new boys on the scene, Club Photographer Ian Horrocks has spent almost 20 years at St. James' Park and he brings us this exclusive gallery.