Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Newcastle fear striker Siem de Jong will be out for four months after he suffered a groin injury in training this week.

The Magpies' £5million signing from Ajax will have scans on the injury in the next two days amid fears he has suffered a serious tear and could be out until Christmas.

Newcastle have delayed the extensive tests while the injury eases.

The loss of the Holland international would be a serious blow to Toon manager Alan Pardew, who missed out on QPR's Loic Remy after a successful loan spell at St James' Park last season and decided not to pursue any other alternative striking options.

De Jong missed Holland’s Thursday friendly against Italy because he had been injured for the start of the English season and was instead with the rest of the Newcastle squad on Tyneside this week.

He is understood to have suffered the fresh injury kicking a ball in a routine training session.

De Jong, brother of last season’s flop loan signing Luuk, was with Dutch giants Ajax for seven years and established a reputation as a natural goalscorer.

He was one of the first of Pardew’s nine summer signings but missed the opening weekend defeat to Manchester City with a calf injury.

The 25-year-old was a substitute at Aston Villa and started upfront with fellow new signing Emmanuel Riviere in last weekend’s home draw with Crystal Palace.

Pardew is already facing the prospect of travelling to Southampton without midfielder Jack Colback, who has returned prematurely from his first England call-up because of calf trouble.

Enforcer Cheick Tiote is also still struggling for fitness after missing the first three games of the new season.