The Russian winter break kept Newcastle's new signing Seydou Doumdia from making his debut against Everton on Wednesday night.

The Ivorian striker arrived at St James' Park having not played in January due to the winter break adhered to in the Russian Premier League.

Manager Steve McClaren is excited to get the ex-CKSA Moscow forward, who has joined on loan from AS Roma, on the pitch but will not take any risks with his prized signing.

"We'll have to assess that [Doumbia] over the next couple of days as they were in a winter break in Russia," McClaren said.

"He has been training but last played in December so it's a bit difficult, we don't want to put too much pressure on him. We just have to ease him in, as with the other new boys."