Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who works for an owner in Mike Ashley notorious for penny-pinching, has stated his interest in bringing US players from Major League Soccer to his club according to the Newcastle Chronicle.

Having stayed up late to watch the United States 2-2 draw with Portugal on Sunday, Pardew spoke to the newspaper about how Premier League clubs were likely to begin monitoring the North American league more closely.

“With a huge population and continual improvement in Major League Soccer, they are a country to watch.

“All the reports we get on American players praise their professionalism, attitude and athleticism.

“What most lack at the moment for Premier League standard is the highest level of technical ability, but I think we will see more and more of them coming through.”

Pardew’s assistant John Carver managed MLS side Toronto FC for a season and a half before returning to England. This could potentially give Newcastle an advantage in identifying players in North America.

Given Newcastle’s unwillingness in recent years to pay for big money transfer targets, MLS and players from the CONCACAF region in general might represent a fertile market for the club. Fans have expressed their displeasure in the management of the club on multiple occasions in the past year, but a few promising signings of US, Costa Rica or Mexico talent could raise the morale on Tyneside.

The club has not bought a first-team player from within the Premier League since the summer of 2011. Consistently looking for bargains has taken the club into the French and Dutch markets while selling its highest profile and most successful players. The club has also taken a number of players on loan during the last few seasons.

Major League Soccer has been open to sending its top stars such as Clint Dempsey and Robbie Keane to the Premier League on short-term loans during the winter months, and this too could be a possibility for Newcastle.

The success of CONCACAF nations thus far in the World Cup is likely to have piqued the interest of many European clubs looking for players that were previously below the radar. Pardew and his head scout Graham Carr are almost certain now to be looking at the American market as a potential gold mine for new players.