Tim Krul will be on the sidelines for more than a with his ankle injury.
The 24-year-old Holland international visited a specialist earlier this week after leaving the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv on crutches last Thursday night following a challenge by striker Jonathan Cristaldo in Newcastle's Europa League match.
Alan Pardew: "His ankle is still a little bit swollen.
"We think [he will be out for a] maximum four weeks, five weeks, but we are hoping for less than that."
But the problems go a lot deeper, because 37-year-old Steve Harper is struggling with a back problem ... and captain Fabricio Coloccini is rated as doubtful for the game after suffering a back injury against the Saints.