Pardew Worried About Key Injuries

Cheick Tiote and Fabricio Coloccini are both injury doubts going into the opening weekend of the Premier League season and Newcastle boss Alan Pardew can’t hide his concern regarding the pair.

The duo; considered to be the spine of the Toon’s side; both picked up knocks in a pre-season defeat at Cardiff City and are both touch and go as to whether they will line up against Tottenham Hotspur next week.

Pardew feels that Tiote has looked better than ever during the summer break and to be without him for the anticipated tough opening day clash with Spurs would be a real blow.

“Cheick has a calf strain so we will have to monitor him. We are sweating on him for next Saturday,” said Pardew.

“Colo also has a knock but I’m not sure how that is. He is due to travel to Argentina but we will have to assess him, too.’

“Cheick looks ten times better than he did last year, and I absolutely mean that,” Pardew added.

“He did not come back well last summer, if I am honest. However, he has summered well this time and is in great physical shape.

“It is going to be a big season for Cheick. All my, what I would call big players, are important if we are to progress as a team, and Cheick fails into that category. He is in a good place.