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Fabricio Coloccini could be out until early May following the back injury he sustained against Southampton.

But Alan Pardew is hoping that a return to Argentina for treatment could reduce the absence to just three weeks.

Coloccini was hurt after an acrobatic attempt to make a routine clearance during the 4-2 win.

But the Toon skipper didn’t recover and has been sent to Buenos Aires to work with the Argentine FA’s medical staff to regain fitness.

Pardew told the Chronicle: “Colo has gone back to Argentina.

“There’s no treatment he can have – he’s broken two of the bones in his back.

“We think it’s going to be anything between three and seven weeks.

“He’s gone back for a week.”

Coloccini wasn’t the only injury worry for Pardew today as he waited on news back from Tyneside on Papiss Cisse. United’s No 9 was pulled out of the squad at the last minute due to an illness picked up over the weekend.

It means that Pardew will start with Shola Ameobi tonight.

But the after-match reaction due to playing on a plastic surface means that the Academy product will miss the home game with Stoke. Pardew said: “It is a blow – I thought he’d be ideal for this surface.

“It’s something we’ll have to overcome.

“It’s a virus, but the doc doesn’t think it’s going to kick in for too long.

“But we obviously need him to train on Friday to get some air in his lungs.”

Pardew will, of course, welcome back Yoan Gouffran and Mathieu Debuchy for Sunday’s game; both are ineligible this evening.

Jonas Gutierrez was also left out over concerns about post- game reaction to his injured knee.