However, the two men sat down together on Monday and have shaken hands and put a training ground disagreement behind them.

Carver said: “There was a situation on the training ground, which happens at every club. We’ve got together, had a conversation, shaken hands like two grown men and we’re moving on.

“Without going into too much detail – because I think what happens on the training ground or dressing room stays there – as far as we’re both concerned, he trained with us on Monday, we had a conversation, it was a private conversation, no hard feelings. We’ve shaken hands and we’re moving on.”

Asked if Gutierrez would be included in the squad this weekend, Carver said: “Absolutely.”

The Argentina international will be joined by fellow midfielder Siem de Jong, who is ready to be included for the first time since August after recovering from a collapsed lung.

Carver will hope the pair and their team-mates can help to arrest an alarming slump which has seen the Magpies lose each of their last six games. They have never lost seven on the trot in the Premier League.

The latest reverse at the hands of Tottenham was watched by a significantly smaller crowd than usual as fans protesting over owner Mike Ashley’s tenure staged a boycott. Further action is planned on Saturday with supporters being asked to make their feelings known in the 34th minute, to reflect the £34million the club left in the bank during the last financial year rather than investing in the squad.

Carver said of the protest: “I don’t want to use it as an excuse, but it affected people. It affected me and some of the players, and I know there’s another one coming this week. If it’s a protest that lasts for one minute, then we’ve got 89 minutes to get on with the game.

“I don’t have a problem with protests – at least people are coming in the stadium this time – but it certainly did affect us. That’s not an excuse, but it certainly did affect the performance.”