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Davide Santon has been hit by an injury hammer blow – after being ruled out until November.

The Newcastle United defender was looking ahead to a September return after a knee injury sustained this summer.

However, after further assessment on the Italian’s knee it has emerged he will miss the first phase of the season.

Pardew said: “It’s not good news.

“When the surgeon looked at his knee there was a little bit more damage than we thought.”

Santon missed the whole of pre-season and the latest setback is a major disappointment to the ex-Serie A man after ending last term with hamstring problems.

It means that Alan Pardew will make the left-back slot a two-man battle between Welsh international Paul Dummett and French defender Massadio Haidara.