Alan Pardew: "He's a player that we are excited about as a staff.
"He has a lackadaisical sort of style. You think sometimes: 'Do it quick Sammy'.
"He looks like he's slow, then he draws two or three players in and wriggles out of it and then he's gone. He's that quick.
"The goal summed him up what he does in training. It was no surprise for us.
"He's going to be a big player for us.
"He's got a good brother and great parents. I'm excited about him.
"At half-time I was thinking this could be a very negative night for me here.
"The players have come in and having not done well and we've lost the game - but it turned out very, very positive.
"Some of them played very well. (Yohan) Cabaye was terrific as were the centre-halves. The subs made an impact.
"It turned out we've won and we're in the hat."