The Argentine has returned to training, along with winger Rolando Aarons, following a calf problem but is only 50/50 to be risked against west Ham.
Alan Pardew (talking to the Chronicle): “Colo is running around and so is Rolando, it’s good to see.
"Steven Taylor, Cheik Tiote, Emmanuel Riviere as well, and a good proportion of those could be included at West Ham. Mehdi Abeid is out, he’s not comfortable.
“Papiss Cisse is much improved too (after knee trouble). I’m really pleased he’s had a good week. He looks like he’s got more agility in his movement.”
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is giving nothing away about his walking wounded as he prepares for Saturday’s Premier League trip to West Ham.
Central defenders Fabricio Coloccini (calf) and Steven Taylor (knee), and midfielders Cheick Tiote (calf) and Rolando Aarons (hamstring) have returned to training, but Pardew is remaining coy over which, if any, of them could be fit for the trip to Upton Park.
Keeper Tim Krul is understood to have picked up a training ground knock and could be a doubt, while midfielder Mehdi Abeid is still out with a toe problem. Also missing are utility man Ryan Taylor, who faces up to four weeks out with the knee problem he sustained against QPR, full-back Davide Santon (also knee) and midfielders Siem de Jong and Gabriel Obertan (both thigh).
Provisional squad: Krul, Elliot, Alnwick, Janmaat, Dummett, Williamson, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Streete, Haidara, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, Gouffran, Ameobi, Riviere, Cisse, Perez, Armstrong, Ferreyra.