Leading scorer Loic Remy is likely to miss the next three games with a calf problem, and he will be joined on the sidelines by full-back Mathieu Debuchy, who has a groin problem and will sit out at least the same period.
Both have been struck down out of the blue ... and obviously the news got tongues wagging this week amongst fans who feel there is more behind the story than we are being told.
Apparently it's Pardew picking the team - with Carver the 'organ grinder' pretending he's getting no information from Ashley's Shoe Licker ... although I'm sure the dug-out will be bugged just to make sure.
Central defender Fabricio Coloccini returns after a family bereavement, but keeper Rob Elliot and full-back Davide Santon (both knee) remain doubts and midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa will not be included because of a family illness.
Newcastle (from): Krul, Alnwick, Coloccini, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, S. Taylor, Dummett, Haidara, Tiote, Anita, Marveaux, Sissoko, Gouffran, Sammy Ameobi, Gosling, Cisse, De Jong, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong.