Kurt Zouma was left shocked by Chelsea's decision to release captain John Terry at the end of the season and does not know how the former England captain can be replaced.
Terry has announced he is leaving the club he joined at the age of 14 after they opted not to offer him a new contract.
The 35-year-old, who has made 696 appearances so far for the Blues, had been hoping to secure a 12-month extension but was informed by the club of their decision before last week's win at Arsenal.
However, Zouma believes his central-defensive partner could play on for another couple of years.
"I am very surprised - I didn't know," Zouma told the Evening Standard.
"Now we have to see what John wants to do because I think he can play for another one or two years.
"This feels like when we lost Didier (Drogba) last summer. (Terry) is a huge personality at Chelsea. When you lose these kind of players, you have to replace them but I don't know how John can be replaced. We have to think about it.
"For me he can play many more times. He is still at a top level. He has been playing very well since I arrived at Chelsea. He can continue for sure.
"His performances have been consistent. Since I have been at the club, I haven't seen him play badly. That's the truth. He was always helping everybody.
"He has been a massive support to me. When I started my first games last year he was always talking to me. He is a legend and a very good leader. I have learnt a lot from him. I don't know what to say, I am very surprised."
2 Everton 23 6 11 6 40 34 29 6
13 Chelsea 23 7 7 9 32 34 28 -2
14 West Bromwich A 23 7 7 9 22 30 28 -8
15 Swansea City 23 6 7 10 22 31 25 -9
16 Bournemouth 23 6 7 10 27 38 25 -11
17 Norwich City 23 6 5 12 28 43 23 -15
18 Newcastle United 23 5 6 12 25 41 21 -16
19 Sunderland 23 5 4 14 28 46 19 -18
20 Aston Villa 23 2 7 14 18 38 13 -20
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC
Fri 10th July
Gateshead FC 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (Cisse pen)
(First half): Darlow, Janmaat, Haidara, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko, De Jong. (Second half): Woodman, Bigirimana, Satka, Good, Ferguson, Tiote, Obertan, Aarons, Perez, Armstrong, Riviere.
Tue 14th July
Club Atlas (MEX) 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Sissoko)
Krul (Darlow 46); Janmaat (Bigirimana 72), Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara (Ferguson 72); Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Obertan 72), de Jong (Perez 72), Gouffran (Aarons 72); Cisse (Armstrong 72).
Sat 18th July
Sacramento Republic FC (USA) 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (og)
Krul (Woodman 46), Janmaat, Williamson, Lascelles (Taylor 46), Haïdara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Obertan (Aarons 69), de Jong (Perez 69), Cissé (Wijnaldum 69).
Tue 21st July
Portland Timbers (USA) 4 Newcastle Utd 3 (Wijnaldum, Aarons 2)
Darlow (Woodman 46), Bigirimana, Satka, Ferguson, Aarons; Abeid (Anita 65), Wijnaldum (Janmaat 46), Gouffran (De Jong 76), Sissoko (Obertan 46), Ayoze, Cisse (Armstrong 46).
Sun 26th July
Sheffield United 2 Newcastle Utd 2 (Wijnaldum, de Jong)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Taylor (Lascelles 69), Haïdara, Anita (Obertan 59), Colback, Sissoko (Abeid 80), Wijnaldum (De Jong 73), Perez (Aarons 45), Cissé (Armstrong 80)
Wed 29th July
York City 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Perez)
Darlow (Elliot); Bigirimana, Lascelles, Satka, Ferguson; Abeid, Gouffran; Aarons (Kemen 59), De Jong, Perez; Mitrovic (Suddick 70)
Sat 1st August
Newcastle Utd 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1
Krul, Janmaat (Mbemba 62), Williamson, Taylor, Haïdara, Anita (De Jong 75), Colback, Sissoko (Perez 81), Obertan (Aarons 62), Wijnaldum, Cissé (Mitrovic 62).
Sunday August 9
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Cisse, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Colback, Anita (Tiote, 67); Sissoko, Wijnaldum (De Jong, 81), Obertan; Cisse (Mitrovic, 75). Subs not used: Darlow, Taylor, Aarons, Perez.
Saturday August 15
SWANSEA CITY 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko (45' Taylor), Wijnaldum, Obertan (82' Mitrovic), Cisse (54' Aarons). Subs: Williamson, Perez, Tiote, Darlow
Saturday August 22
MANCHESTER UTD 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Mbemba, Taylor, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Perez (78' Tiote), Wijnaldum, Obertan (69' Thauvin), Mitrovic (88' Cisse).
Subs: Williamson, de Jong, Aarons, Darlow
Tuesday August 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 4 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Thauvin, Janmaat, de Jong, Williamson
Darlow, Janmaat, Lascelles, Williamson, Haidara (78' Toney), Tiote, Gouffran, Aarons, de Jong, Thauvin (65' Mitrovic), Perez (72' Colback).
Subs: Dummett, Wijnaldum, Mbemba, Elliot.
Saturday August 29
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (72' Perez), Sissoko (78' Cisse), Wijnaldum, Thauvin (87' de Jong), Mitrovic
Subs: Obertan, Tiote, Darlow, Taylor
Monday September 14
WEST HAM UTD 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (60' de Jong), Colback, Sissoko, Wijnaldum (79' Aarons), Thauvin (60' Perez), Cisse Subs: Gouffran, Obertan, Lascelles, Darlow
Saturday September 19
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 WATFORD 2
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara (80' Aarons), Wijnaldum, Colback, Thauvin (88' Obertan), Sissoko, Perez, Cisse (45' de Jong)
Subs: Williamson, Anita, Lascelles, Elliot
Wednesday September 23
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 SHEFF WED 1 (League Cup)
Krul, Janmaat (45' Mbabu), Lascelles, Williamson, Mbemba, Anita, Wijnaldum, Thauvin (45' Perez), Sissoko, Obertan (71' Toney), de Jong
Subs: Coloccini, Gouffran, Elliot, Barlaser
Saturday September 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 2 (Perez, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu, Sissoko (90+2' de Jong), Colback (54' Obertan), Anita, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic (85' Toney)
Subs: Williamson, Lascelles, Thauvin, Elliot
Saturday October 3
MANCHESTER CITY 6 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Mitrovic)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu (53' Lascelles), Sissoko (66' Tiote), Anita, Gouffran (66' Thauvin), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic, Perez
Subs: Williamson, Cisse, de Jong, Elliot
Sunday October 18
NEWCASTLE UTD 6 NORWICH 2 (Wijnaldum 4, Perez, Mitrovic)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett (65' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote (45' Anita), Colback, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic (88' Cisse)
Subs: de Jong, Lascelles, Thauvin, Woodman
Sunday October 25
SUNDERLAND 3 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett (78' Thauvin), Sissoko, Tiote (45' Lascelles), Colback (49' Anita), Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Cisse, de Jong, Haidara, Woodman
Saturday October 31
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 STOKE CITY 0
Elliot, Janmaat (83' Lascelles), Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote (71' de Jong), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic, Perez
Subs: Cisse, Gouffran, Haidara, Thauvin, Woodman
Saturday November 7
BOURNEMOUTH 0 NEWCASTLE UTD (Perez)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (90+3' Mbabu), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic (63' Cisse), Perez (77' Thauvin)
Subs: de Jong, Gouffran, Lascelles, Woodman
Saturday November 21
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 LEICESTER CITY 3
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote (20' Thauvin), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic (62' Cisse), Perez (81' de Jong)
Subs: Gouffran, Lascelles, Woodman, Sterry
Saturday November 28
CRYSTAL PALACE 5 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback (70' de Jong), Anita, Sissoko, Perez (45' Lascelles), Wijnaldum (70' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Thauvin, Darlow, Sterry, Mitrovic
Sunday December 6
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 0 (Skrtel og, Wijnaldum)
Elliot, Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Dummett, Sissoko, Colback (77' Gouffran), Anita, Wijnaldum, de Jong (68' Perez), Cisse (82' Thauvin)
Subs: Darlow, Sterry, Mbabu, Mitrovic
Sunday December 14
TOTTENHAM HOT 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 2 (Mitrovic, Perez)
Elliot, Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Dummett, Sissoko, Colback, Anita (91' Goufran), Wijnaldum, de Jong (63' Perez), Cisse (72' Mitrovic)
Subs: Darlow, Sterry, Mbabu, Thauvin
Saturday December 19
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Coloccini)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita (71' Thauvin), Colback, Wijnaldum, de Jong (59' Perez), Cisse (33' Mitrovic)
Subs: Gouffran, Tiote, Darlow, Mbabu
Saturday December 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 EVERTON 1
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Wijnaldum, Perez (87' Thauvin), Mitrovic
Subs: de Jong, Gouffran, Tiote, Darlow, Mbabu, Toney
Monday December 28
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Darlow, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback (86' Thauvin), Anita (27' Tiote), Sissoko, Perez (72' de Jong), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic
Subs: Gouffran, Lascelles, Mbabu, Elliot
Saturday January 2 2016
ARSENAL 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote (87' de Jong), Colback (79' Thauvin), Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Gouffran, Lascelles, Darlow, Toney, Mbabu
Saturday January 9 2016
FA Cup - WATFORD 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Elliot, Mbemba, Coloccini (45' Lascelles), Dummett, Janmaat, Sissoko, Tiote (82' de Jong), Wijnaldum, Mbabu (52' Thauvin), Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Gouffran, Darlow, Toney, Sterry
Tuesday January 12
NEWCASTLE UTD 3 MAN UTD 3 (Wijnaldum, Mitrovic (pen), Dummett)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (85' Toney), Colback (81' Gouffran), Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez (90+2' de Jong), Mitrovic
Subs: Lascelles, Darlow, Marveaux, Sterry
Saturday January 16
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 WEST HAM UTD 1 (Perez, Wijnaldum)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett (57' Saivet), Colback, Shelvey, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez (80' Gouffran), Mitrovic (90+5' Lascelles)
Subs: Aarons, Darlow, Riviere, Toney
Saturday January 23
WATFORD 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Lascelles)
Elliot, Lascelles, Coloccini (88' Riviere), Mbemba, Janmaat, Shelvey, Saivet (59' Gouffran), Aarons (59' Perez), Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Mitrovic
Subs: Thauvin, Darlow, Taylor, Marveaux
Wednesday February 3
19:45 Everton v Newcastle United
Saturday February 6
15:00 Newcastle United v West Brom
Saturday February 13
17:30 Chelsea v Newcastle United
WATFORD 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1
21. Rob Elliot
15. Jamaal Lascelles
2. Fabricio Coloccini 88'
18. Chancel Mbemba
22. Daryl Janmaat
12. Jonjo Shelvey
23. Henri Saivet 59'
16. Rolando Aarons 59'
7. Moussa Sissoko
5. Georginio Wijnaldum
45. Aleksandar Mitrovic
Subs
11. Yoan Gouffran 59'
17. Ayoze Perez 59'
20. Florian Thauvin
26. Karl Darlow
27. Steven Taylor
29. Emmanuel Riviere 88'
31. Sylvain Marveaux
Watford ended their four-game losing streak in the Barclays Premier League with a much-needed 2-1 victory over Newcastle at Vicarage Road.
Odion Ighalo scored the opening goal of the game just 44 seconds into the second half before Craig Cathcart doubled the home side's lead shortly before the hour mark.
Jamaal Lascelles pulled one back for the visitors, but the defeat for Newcastle sees Steve McClaren's side remain in the relegation places while Watford move up to 10th.
Heading into Saturday's encounter, Quique Sanchez Flores claimed fatigue had contributed to his team's poor run, but the Watford manager made only one change with Juan Carlos Paredes coming in for Allan Nyom. Nordin Amrabat, the £6million signing from Malaga, was handed a place on the bench.
For the visitors, Lascelles was drafted into McLaren's starting XI while Henri Saivet was handed his full debut, and Rolando Aarons made his first league start of the season.
It was Aarons, operating as a left wing-back, who had the first opportunity of the game. The ball fell to the 20-year-old on the edge of the Watford area, but he steered his half volley just wide of Heurelho Gomes' left post.
Ahead of the game, Watford had failed to score in their last two matches while Newcastle had netted only five times on the road this season - the lowest of any team in the top seven tiers of English football. Unsurprisingly the first half saw few opportunities for either a side.
After 17 minutes Etienne Capoue seemed certain to score when Troy Deeney's effort was fumbled by Rob Elliot but the Newcastle keeper scrambled to his feet to block the Frenchman's follow-up strike. Midway through the first half Georginio Wijnaldum teed up Aleksandar Mitrovic, but his effort was saved by the legs of Gomes and the ball drifted out for a corner.
That was as good as it got with referee Andre Marriner blowing his whistle on a rather dreary first half.
The second period was a different story altogether, and just 44 seconds had gone when Capoue dinked a ball over the top of Newcastle's static defence and Ighalo had only Elliot to beat. The Nigerian made no mistake as he rounded the Magpies' stopper and side-footed home into an empty net.
Replays suggested Ighalo, now with 14 goals to his name this term, may have been offside, but neither the home fans were not complaining.
Watford were in command and moments after Valon Behrami was booked for being adjudged to have dived in the penalty area, the home side doubled their advantage. Newcastle failed to deal with a corner and the ball fell to Cathcart who fired home from close range shortly before the hour mark.
A double substitution ensued for the visitors with Yoan Gouffran and Ayoze Perez replacing Aarons and Saivet. Moments after coming on, the latter found himself unmarked and six yards from goal, but his header - following a pinpoint cross by Moussa Sissoko - went high and wide.
It did not look as though it would be Newcastle's afternoon, but suddenly they were handed a lifeline when Lascelles out-jumped Miguel Britos to head home Jonjo Shelvey's corner.
Substitute Perez was then played through by Wijnaldum but fired his shot over. At the other end Ighalo twisted one way and the other before his fierce shot was well saved by Elliot.
Newcastle pressed for an equaliser but it never came as Watford recorded their third victory over the Magpies this season.