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Gutierrez joined Newcastle from Mallorca in July 2008

Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez could make his first Premier League appearance on Saturday since overcoming testicular cancer.

Magpies boss John Carver said the 31-year-old could be on the bench for the home game with Aston Villa (15:00 GMT).

"Jonas Gutierrez is in the squad," added Carver. "There's a possibility he could be on the bench and that's a massive lift for everyone."

Argentine Gutierrez underwent surgery last September.

He made a winning comeback when he played for 87 minutes as captain in an Under-21 Premier League Cup win over West Ham in December.

But Gutierrez, who has made nearly 200 appearances for the club since joining in 2008, has not played a Premier League match since last April when he was on loan at Norwich City.

Gutierrez had surgery to remove his left testicle in Argentina before undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

He returned to training with Newcastle in November.