Jonas Gutierrez is confident Fabricio Coloccini will play again for Newcastle United this season.

Jonas revealed that Coloccini, who is spending time with family in Argentina, is in good spirits.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I spoke with him and he's feeling better.

"It is a long-term injury of about a month or so.

"Therefore it was going to be hard to bring him back in the condition that he left. We know what type of professional he is and we understand he can't come back and just play a little bit.

"We all want him back to play full games.

"We want him back as quickly as possible because he's really important for us."