Pards on Captain Colo.

FABRICIO COLOCCINI is rated as “doubtful” for tomorrow’s trip to Reading.

The Magpies skipper got through just over an hour of the Capital One Cup exit against Manchester United, after spending most of the season on the sidelines.

And with a crunch period up and coming for the Magpies, with Manchester United in the Premier League quickly followed by the Tyne-Wear derby, Alan Pardew wants to ensure that his Argentinian skipper is at the races. Pardew will recall Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba Yohan Cabaye and Jonas Gutierrez for the journey to Berkshire.

But he will make a late call on whether Captain Colo heads south.

Pardew told the Chronicle: “The only worry we have is Colo. He’s back, but we don’t think he’s quite right yet.

“If he’s not right then we won’t risk him.”

Yet Pardew does consider the return of his big hitters as a major boost.

When asked if the big four’s re-emergence gave him a lift after the midweek cup exit, Pardew said: “For sure. Everybody will come back in and they are in good health.

“Everybody is pushing and available.”

Should Coloccini not come through, it would only be precautionary.

And along with Cheick Tiote’s return to fitness, Pardew is delighted to see them back in the fray.

He said: “They're big players for us, and you can't underestimate that.

“I thought Colo was composed. He reads situations, and does things that to the untrained eye makes it look easy.

“Great players – like Wayne Rooney – do that, and Colo does that in a defensive way. We've missed that knowledge.”


From the Ronnie.

 

I don't think he should have played him on Wednesday to be honest. That's probably put him back a few days. Should have kept him for Reading.

Wouldn't mind seeing Ferguson and Bigirimana involved at some time tomorrow.

 

Hopefully he'll play, I suspect he will. Makes a big difference for us at the back. Him and Saylor need to get that partnership going and nailed down again. They looked one of the best defensive duos in the league last season prior to Saylors injury. I hope we play:

Krul, Perchino, Santon, Saylor, Colo, Tiote, Jonas, Cabaye, Benni, Ba, Cisse

 

And Shola coming on in the last 15 mins and scorig a hat trick.