Shola Ameobi could return to the Newcastle side to face Everton wearing a face mask. The striker fractured a cheekbone during the 1-0 defeat to Fulham last month and flew to America to see a specialist who fitted him with the protective face guard.
Ameobi returned to full-contact training on Tuesday and has been trying to get comfortable with his new headgear. He could be joined in the squad for Saturday's game by Stephen Ireland who is keen to make his debut for Newcastle after his loan move there from Aston Villa.
"Shola has trained with the rest of the group for the first time and so has Stephen Ireland, but we'll not make a final decision on whether they are able to play some part against Everton until Thursday," said the club's manager Alan Pardew. "It is looking good, though, and both have reacted positively in training.
"Shola has had a week with the mask, just getting used to it. There was no point getting him to wear the mask, ask him to play and he wasn't comfortable with it. He has to have that confidence it is going to protect him so he can throw himself around as usual.
"The guy who has designed the mask has done so loads of times before with basketball players and that is a far more risky sport when it comes to elbows in the face and injuries like this. But Shola still had to try it out, he's done that now and it would be great to have him involved at the weekend.
"I'll have to have a chat with him on Thursday, check he is comfortable and ask him whether he wants to play. I'm pretty sure he will, but it has to be his decision."
Ireland is yet to make his debut for Newcastle after his loan move while the midfielder started only six games for Aston Villa earlier in the season. He has not played since 6 December because of a knee injury but Pardew is keen for the 24-year-old to join on a full-time basis.
"It's a big opportunity for Stephen here," said Pardew. "He has enjoyed himself so far, has settled in well and this is a chance for him to show what he can do.
"Stephen didn't get much of a chance at Aston Villa for one reason or another, but he is a quality player. He will give us an extra goal threat from midfield and he can play in several different positions.
"We are interested in doing something in the summer which would make the move permanent, but a lot of water has to go under the bridge first. We have to see what Stephen does and we would have to talk to Villa about what they want to do. Let's just see how he does first."
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