Steven Taylor has said that the new signings at Newcastle United mean that there is increased competition for places in the team.

Alan Pardew brought a number of new players to St James' Park during the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old told The Guardian: "You've got rise to the challenge. You've got to better yourself, you can't sulk. You're at a massive club, deal with it, new players coming in are part and parcel of professional football. You've got to perform.

"The competition is healthy. There's been players here in the last few months who got too comfortable, they've been too settled in their position.

"Before the new lads came in the manager didn't have competition for places but now, if people want to play week in week out they've got to keep doing well."

Newcastle are playing Tottenham Hotspur in the early kickoff in the Premier League this afternoon.