... he has only started one Premier League game since picking up a knee injury at Wigan Athletic almost a year ago, at West Bromwich Albion in April.
That tackle could have ruined his career ... and some suggest it may have!
Alan Pardew: “We have still got Massadio (Haidara) pushing Davide Davide when he comes back, so there’s really hot competition for that role.”
So he seems to be fit, but our St James' Park insider suggests Haidara's problem is all in his head.
The player was starting to adapt to the Premier League when he took that major shock to the system at Wigan, a shocking tackle that seems to have put the fear of God into him.
If Pardew is going to play fringe players in the remaining ten games, as he says, this could be a major part of Haidara's future.
Will he sink or swim?