Injury setback for Tiote

Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote will not face Chelsea on Saturday, as his recovery from injury has taken longer than expected.

The African battler has been on the sidelines for a month with a knee injury, but was scheduled to return against the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Despite wanting Tiote back at his disposal, Toon manager Alan Pardew does is not willing to risk his player further by bringing him back to Premier League action too quickly.

“He is not going to be involved, that’s for sure, even though I said last week he would be,” Pardew told reporters ahead of the game on Tyneside.

“We must make sure he is right because he is a very important player to us.”

Tiote has been linked with a move to Chelsea come the January transfer window, but Pardew will be keen to hold on to his influential midfield man once he gets fully fit again.

By Gareth McKnight