Toon close to full strength

Winger Hatem Ben Arfa is Newcastle boss Alan Pardew’s only injury absentee for tomorrow evening’s opening Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal.

The Frenchman is around five to six weeks away from a return to action after damaging his left ankle – the leg in which he suffered a double fracture last season – during a pre-season friendly against Sporting Kansas City.

Mike Williamson (broken arm) and Danny Guthrie and Shane Ferguson (both ankle) are fit, but Pardew has revealed Ferguson will not start as a direct replacement for Liverpool-bound left-back Jose Enrique after only just returning to full training, while transfer-listed Joey Barton must assure the manager of his commitment if he is to be selected.

Team (from): Krul, Harper, Forster, Simpson, R. Taylor, Perch, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Williamson, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Barton, Marveaux, Gosling, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Best, Vuckic.