Toon Suffer Double Injury Blow In Crushing Defeat

Newcastle suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City in their final pre-season game and were dealt with some more bad news on the injury front.

With a week to go before the season opener against Spurs, Cheick Tiote limped off after 68 minutes with a calf strain and captain Fabricio Coloccini also picked up a knock.

The injuries mean both are struggling to make it for the tea time kick-off next Saturday and it’s a further blow after both Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa were left at home to get up to speed.

Speaking after the game, Pardew said:

“Chieck has a calf strain so we will have to monitor him. We are sweating on him for next Saturday.

“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.”

Senegalese stars Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba also didn’t travel to Wales and we’re told they’re carrying minor knocks.

Aron Gunnarsson bagged a brace as new look Cardiff claimed a stunning win against the Toon. Joe Ralls and Etien Velikonja also found the net at the Cardiff City Stadium. Shola Ameobi was Newcastle’s scorer from the penalty spot.

Speaking about the game, Pardew blamed his side’s poor attitude in what only Toon’s second defeat in pre-season, but by far the most damaging.

It was a bad day for Newcastle players and fans alike. Cardiff scored four past our first choice defence and made it look so easy.

To top it off, there’s a slim possibility that we’ll be without Coloccini, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cisse and Ba for the Spurs game. It’s a slim, but worrying possibility.

We need a new signing to lift the spirits.

Click on the photo for the latest on Mathieu Debuchy