... the thigh injury which is likely to sideline summer signing Siem de Jong.
Alan Pardew: "The decision still hasn't been made about whether he or not he has an operation. That will determine how long he is out for, but I would say it will be a minimum of three months."
As well as De Jong, the Magpies will have to do without teenage midfielder Rolando Aarons (hamstring) and striker Facundo Ferreyra (back problems).