Newcastle United manager John Carver has admitted that Jonas Gutierrez faces a tough challenge to get back into the first-team squad.

The Argentine is back involved with his Newcastle teammates after beating testicular cancer, but Carver is unsure whether he will return to the side before the end of the season.

"I'd like to think he'll play for us but I don't know," the Newcastle boss told reporters. "Jonas has come back from a serious situation and I'm not putting pressure on him.

"It's got to be right. He's got to get into the team in his position.

"He has to compete to play on the left side and there is a lot of competition there, more than we've had for a long time."

Gutierrez's contract with the Magpies expires at the end of the season.