Alan Pardew: “We really needed him this week.
“He was getting battered and sustained a terrible tackle but put in a brilliant performance.
“He’s the only one that really put out more than I would have liked him to.
“But that’s Mathieu for you – he puts his life on the line every time in every game he plays.
"Shola has a new lease of life. The prospect of playing at the World Cup with Nigeria has given him a sparkle.
“The international scenario has helped him. We have benefited from it.”