A Kevin Nolan horror tackle has ruled him out of a return to former side Bolton next Sunday and the midfielder will also be suspended for the games against Manchester United and Hull City.
Following the loss of Nolan it was a backs-to-the-wall display for Newcastle when, for the second time this season, they drew after having a player ordered off.
The first occasion saw Habib Beye incorrectly red-carded in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
This time referee Lee Mason gave Nolan a straight red - and rightly so - on the stroke of half-time following a reckless two-footed challenge on Everton striker Victor Anichebe.
Anichebe was able to carry on after treatment, but not for long as he headed to the dressing room to join creative midfielder Mikel Arteta, who had been stretchered off after a third-minute injury.
Arteta suffered a knee injury and headed straight back to Merseyside before the second half got underway for a scan, but the early indications are that his season could be over.
The loss of Arteta had a major impact on the game which was robbed of the usual energetic early start as it lacked any impetus while the Goodison side also lost their dead-ball specialist.
The ten men of Newcastle made a switch at the break when Damien Duff was replaced by Jonas Gutierrez who added some strong and much-needed running for United.
Chances were few are far between in the first half with Everton the more dangerous, especially from corner kicks as keeper Steve Harper made an important save and Ryan Taylor cleared a Jack Rodwell effort off the line.
Having not won at St James' Park since 2001, Everton must have thought they would fall behind after 31 minutes when Nolan played in Peter Lovenkrands who, with just Tim Howard to beat, inexplicably put his effort wide.
Newcastle were penned back in the second half and were forced to rely on the counter-attack and it almost paid dividends when Gutierrez was released but the Argentine only managed to lift his shot over the bar.
Everton had plenty of the ball but it was not until the 77th minute that they managed a second-half attempt on goal with Harper easily dealing with Jo's header.
Everton were disappointing with the lack of pressure that they created and far too often they resorted to long but wayward shots.
Newcastle at the close were running on empty as they moved up one place to 14th and, under the circumstances, they were delighted with a point as they kept their sixth clean sheet of the season.
Everton meanwhile did not impose themselves sufficiently and the missed points saw them blow a glorious opportunity to close the gap on the team above them, Arsenal.