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Although the Magpies will not play for ten days during the international break, they will potentially be without Faye for the tough trio of Premier League matches against Liverpool, Blackburn and Arsenal.

The Senegal international will also miss the upcoming matches against Mali and Morocco for his country.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce said: "We're looking at two or three weeks for Faye and one thing it does is stop him going on international duty."

However, Allardyce is boosted by the imminent returns of goalkeeper Shay Given and full back Stephen Carr.

Allardyce said: "Carr and Given should be back no problem in a week or so. Stephen Carr will play in a training game in midweek, to help us get him back."

Allardyce has come under criticism lately for Newcastle's indifferent start to the season. In their last three matches they have lost at Reading, been thrashed 4-1 at home to Portsmouth and drawn against local rivals Sunderland.

However, League Managers' Association chief executive John Barnwell has leapt to the defence of the highly-rated boss, insisting that any talk of him losing his job after 14 games in charge is "insane".

"To talk about Sam Allardyce being under pressure is ludicrous," he said.

"Every manager is under pressure to win games but being under pressure to win games is different from being under pressure to keep your job.

"I just find anything even remotely suggesting Sam Allardyce could lose his job bordering on the insane, absolutely insane.

TM / Eurosport