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Geordie boy Adam Armstrong has been included in tonight’s Newcastle United squad to face Norwich City (7.45pm).

With No 9 Papiss Cisse ruled out with a back injury and Yohan Cabaye set for a medical with Paris St-Germain in the January transfer window, Alan Pardew has rewarded the Academy product with a place in his squad for the Premier League encounter.

Yoan Gouffran and Gabriel Obertan are also out of the game with knocks.

Still just 16, Armstrong can operate in the No 10 role and while United are simply handing him experience as reward for some superb displays in the Under-21s and the Under-18s this term, the West Denton lad was “buzzing” to win a call-up.

Armstrong scored in last week’s 4-0 hammering of Sunderland in the FA Youth Cup to set up a fifth round date with Derby County at Pride Park.

He was also on the score-sheet again on Saturday after hitting a goal in the 2-1 win at Manchester United.

With Cabaye not featuring this evening Pardew may consider pushing Moussa Sissoko into a more offensive role alongside Loic Remy, while Shola Ameobi could provide an option in a 4-4-2 system.

Hatem Ben Arfa remains a big option for Pardew too with the playmaker underused at times this season.

However, Pardew is desperate to see the club’s long-term target Luuk de Jong finally arrive on Tyneside.

The Borussia Monchengladbach forward has seen the move take so many twists and turns this winter.

However, Cisse has refused to go in the other direction on loan.

The Chronicle understands that the former Freiburg striker would only consider a move back to the Bundesliga if it was a permanent deal.

Putting the Cabaye transfer saga aside, Pardew said: “We are hoping to sign a player outside the Cabaye situation for the second half of the season, and we are getting a little bit closer to that, on a positive side.”

Meanwhile, Pardew is at least boosted by the return from suspension of Cabaye’s close pal Mathieu Debuchy who will slot back in at right-back tonight.