Newcastle's Jack Colback may be set for six weeks on the sidelines

Jack Colback was injured at the Stadium of Light on Sunday

Newcastle will be without Jack Colback for up to six weeks after he suffered a knee injury during last weekend's derby defeat to Sunderland.

However, the club say the 26-year-old midfielder's injury is not as severe as originally feared.

Colback has started nine of the Magpies' 10 Premier League games this term but was injured after a challenge from Lee Cattermole during the early stages of the second-half on Sunday.

There had been speculation that Colback might be on the sidelines for a number of months but a Newcastle statement read: "Jack Colback will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury, following further scans and assessment on Thursday.

"The injury is not as bad as first feared."

Colback began his career at Sunderland but he joined Newcastle on a free transfer in the summer of 2014.

The Magpies have made a sluggish start to the campaign and are currently second from bottom of the Premier League table after their 3-0 loss to the Black Cats.