Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini could miss up to four matches with the hamstring injury he suffered at West Bromwich Albion.

The 30-year-old was replaced by Davide Santon at half time in the Premier League clash, which the Magpies won 3-1.

After the game, Toon boss Alan Pardew confirmed that the Argentinean will definitely miss their game with Liverpool on Sunday and possibly three more.

"We lost Coloccini today and we might lose him for three or four games, so it could be difficult without him," Pardew told the club's official website.

"We will have to cross our fingers and hope that he's going to be okay for the run-in.

"He's certainly not going to make next week, I'm 100 percent sure of that."

Pardew also had some good news on the fitness front, as he revealed that match winner Papiss Cisse, who was strechered off late on, was only suffering from cramp.

Written by
Robert Summerscales