Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce admits he faces a major decision over who will take over as his captain during Geremi's African Nations Cup absence.

The Cameroon international could be missing for more than a month early in the new year.

Allardyce opted to hand the armband to his summer signing at the start of the campaign, and now has to look for a replacement, albeit a temporary one with the former Real Madrid, Middlesbrough and Chelsea man due to resume on his return.

The 53-year-old said: "I have had a lot of difficult decisions to make since I came to St James' Park, but I have to say deciding on just who was going to be my captain was probably one of the most difficult - and now I will have to decide again.

"Obviously we are losing Geremi at the turn of the year and I will give a lot of thought as to who will replace him as captain of Newcastle United."

Goalkeeper Shay Given has done the job in the past, as has striker Michael Owen, and there are plenty of candidates within the squad.