Tiote set for Toon return

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote will be fit for Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash with Manchester City despite suffering a nasty head injury in midweek.

The Ivory Coast international needed seven stitches to repair a gash above his eye after an aerial collision with John Obi Mikel in Wednesday night’s 2-0 win at Chelsea, but manager Alan Pardew has no doubts he will be available for the City game.

Full-back Danny Simpson (ankle) remains a doubt, but only central defender Steven Taylor (Achilles) is still on the long-term injury list.

Provisional squad: Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, Santon, R. Taylor, Ferguson, Tavernier, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Tiote, Cabaye, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Obertan, Marveaux, Abeid, Gosling, Vuckic, Ba, Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Best.