Tiote picked up a Europa League suspension against Club Brugge last week, just as he did in the Premiership previously.
Keeping him on the pitch is one problem - GETTING him on the pitch is something else.
Alan Pardew: “Mohamed Diame's power was there to see.
“He kept running with the ball, and keeping it for periods in the game. He wouldn’t have been able to do that against Cheik, for sure.
“Cheik will be back for Swansea, and he’s important to us.
“We miss him in these physical games.”