It's Toon time: Tiote tells Drogba and Kalou Newcastle will finish above Chelsea

Cheik Tiote has told Ivory Coast team-mates Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou that Newcastle will finish above Chelsea this season.

The midfield hardman returns from a seven-match absence to face Wolves on Tyneside on Saturday, aiming to reignite Newcastle's unexpected European charge.

This season Newcastle have won just six of the 14 games without the Ivory Coast international, who spent most of the African Cup of Nations winding up the Chelsea pair.

On the rise: Cheik Tiote believes Newcastle will finish higher than Chelsea

Tiote said: `We discussed it. I told Salomon we'll finish fourth, and Chelsea will finish seventh and he said 'ok then, we'll see'.

'I suppose it shows the confidence I have in our team that I said it to him. If we keep working hard, everything's possible and we can go for fourth. I think we've got a good chance.

'We're a point behind Chelsea and Arsenal and we have everyone back in the squad, Demba's back and if we keep playing like we can I think we can stay in the top four.

'This team isn't just about two or three players, it's about the whole squad. It doesn't matter if one or two of those are missing, it's down to the team to come through that.'

Nervous times: Didier Drogba and Chelsea face the prospect of finishing outside the Champions League places

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew may be surprised that Wolves turned to Terry Connor to resolve their managerial crisis but he will warn his players about the dangers of underestimating the Premier League strugglers who will be out to make a point for sacked boss Mick McCarthy.

Pardew added: 'I have been on a coaching course with Terry. He is a top man and I know his brief in the dressing room will be 'win it for Mick' and we have to be on our guard for that.