Pardew's 6 Injury Concerns Ahead Of Opening Game

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is contending with injured/unfit players across the pitch as he considers the possibility of being without up to six first team players for the opening game of the season against Tottenham Hotspurs at the weekend.

Fabricio Coloccini (knock) and Cheik Tiote (calf) both picked up injuries against Cardiff City at the weekend, whilst Papiss Cisse (hamstring), Demba Ba (shin) and Hatem Ben Arfa (knee) are all seeking treatment.

Yohan Cabaye, whilst not injured, is struggling with match fitness after the summer break.

Pardew has said of the injuries;

"Ben Arfa has a slight knee problem, which I think definitely keeps him out of the first week. Papiss has got a slight hamstring and Demba has a shin injury, which he’s carried for a week or so.

Yohan Cabaye is not right in terms of work he’s done. We are hoping to get him up to speed and get him involved on Saturday.

Everybody else is OK, apart from the knocks we got at Cardiff. Cheik has got a calf problem. We’ll have to see. I don’t think he’ll travel, by the way.

Colo looked like he was struggling after 20 minutes, which worries me. Colo didn’t want to come off being captain.

I wasn’t sure if he was injured or not, so he might have played too long."

Coloccini has vowed to be fit for the midweek International game where he has been called up by Argentina but Pardew has already said he will be assessed before being allowed to go.