Cheick Tiote will miss up to three matches for Newcastle United.
The hard-nosed Ivory Coast international has sustained a hamstring injury at training during the week which will keep him out of this weekend's trip to Chelsea as well as the February 12 home meeting with Tottenham.
Tiote could also be unavailable for the February 23 fixture with Aston Villa and his absence will be a major blow to the Magpies who are already without midfielder Yohan Cabaye who left for Paris Saint-Germain last month.
