O'Neill: Sam will be hit on Tyneside

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has tipped Sam Allardyce to succeed where so many others have failed and become a managerial hit at Newcastle.

Allardyce quit as Bolton manager on April 29 and seems certain to be unveiled as Glenn Roeder's successor at St James' Park this week.

"Sam will be ready for Newcastle, of course," said O'Neill, who has guided Villa to 11th in his first season in charge. "I think he feels himself 'this is it', and it's a great chance for him and a great opportunity because Newcastle are a fantastic football club."

Allardyce, who enjoyed seven-and-a-half hugely successful years in charge at the Reebok Stadium, held talks with Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd in London on Friday.

Yet, the 52-year-old still found time to accept an invitation from Trotters chairman Phil Gartside to attend Bolton's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Allardyce's successor, Sammy Lee, said: "I was very pleased to see Sam, but it just shows the depth of this football club.

"The fact that he came along to support everybody, and the job that the owner, the chairman and Sam have done in the past eight or nine years have been terrific."

A tense encounter saw Villa snatch a deserved point in the 81st minute when substitute Luke Moore fired home.

Gary Speed opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark but a brilliant volleyed equaliser from rookie midfielder Craig Gardner soon had Villa level.

Kevin Davies restored the home side's lead with a neat finish in the 58th minute and, although Moore levelled in the closing stages, Bolton ended the season a point clear of Reading to clinch a coveted UEFA Cup berth.