Titus Bramble missed both the 2-0 Premiership victory at West Ham and Wednesday night's defeat by the same score at Liverpool through injury.
And with Steve Taylor also sidelined, Glenn Roeder was forced to pair Craig Moore with youngster Peter Ramage.
The manager, himself a central defender having played 219 times in the Newcastle defence, has been hugely impressed by Moore's contribution, and was particularly pleased with Ramage's performance at Upton Park.
Roeder: "Craig's experience has been very important. He had an excellent World Cup. He played for many years at Rangers and he is putting all that experience to good use at the moment.
"Ramage, when he was asked o play as a central defender on Sunday, was outstanding as well. That is the position young Ramage grew up playing in in the youth and reserve team, so I suppose it was quite natural for him to go into that position."
Roeder will hope for better news of both Bramble and Taylor ahead of Sunday's home clash with Everton.