Midfielder Cheick Tiote could return to the Newcastle squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Tottenham.
The 26-year-old, who has missed the last five games because he has been on African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast, is available once again after his country’s quarter-final exit last weekend.
However, Hatem Ben Arfa’s return from a hamstring problem has been delayed by a virus which has cost him a week’s training, and he is unlikely to be ready for selection until the end of the month.
Provisional squad: Krul, Harper, Elliot, Debuchy, Santon, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, S. Taylor, Tiote, Sissoko, Gutierrez, Anita, Cabaye, Bigirimana, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Marveaux, Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Gouffran.