Coloccini faces fitness test

Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini is a doubt for the FA Cup fourth round trip to Brighton.

The Argentinian defender tweaked his groin in training on Thursday and will be assessed before manager Alan Pardew makes a decision on him.

Strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse remain on African Nations up duty with Senegal but are expected to return early next week, while defender Steven Taylor (Achilles) and midfielders Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) are still on the long-term casualty list, although all are making progress.