Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew says James Perch can replace injured skipper Fabricio Coloccini.

The Argentine may miss the next three matches if he can't shake off the troublesome muscle injury.

But Pardew has faith in Perch, he told the Evening Chronicle: "Coloccini is the one to worry about.

"I don't think he's going to make next Sunday against Liverpool.

"We have to really hope that it isn't a bad hamstring pull. He will certainly miss the next two or three games and that's when you need somebody like Perch who was phenomenal at left-back and then centre-back."