Coloccini absence hurts Newcastle

Newcastle United's bid to ensure their Premier League survival has been hit by the news that Fabricio Coloccini will be absent for several weeks due to a back injury.

With the Magpies 18/1 with bet365 to be relegated and six points clear of the drop zone, the loss of Coloccini may not prove to be too crucial, but manager Alan Pardew is still concerned at being without a key defender. Pardew said: "Colo has gone back to Argentina. There's no treatment he can have - he's broken two of the bones in his back. "We think it's going to be anything between three and seven weeks. He's gone back (home) for a week." Coloccini will definitely be missing this Sunday when United play host to Stoke City, hoping to gain revenge for a 2-1 defeat in the Potteries earlier this season. Jonathan Walters and Cameron Jerome netted in the final nine minutes for the Potters to nullify an earlier opener from Papiss Cisse.

Bet HERE

Viewed 556 times