Newcastle United boss John Carver has ruled Siem de Jong out of contention this season.

Carver admits it was a blow to lose the Holland playmaker - who had been signed to fill the number ten role that Alan Pardew saw as critical to Newcastle's success this year.

He said: "It's one of those we just need to test the water with and see how he is.

"I've said from the start there's no pressure on him (to play again this season).

"He was that number 10 that Alan was certainly looking for to link stuff up.

"The bits we saw in pre-season - he scored a couple of goals, a free-kick, his link-up play was good.

"That's why Alan bought him. He sees the pass to provide strikers with the ball. Unfortunately, we're not going to get that."