Newcastle full-back Danny Simpson is hoping he could return from injury in as little as three weeks' time.
The 25-year-old defender limped off during the first half of Sunday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Aston Villa unsure whether he had strained or torn his hamstring.
However, the results of a scan have revealed the full extent of the damage and the former Manchester United player is now hoping to limit his absence to as short a spell as possible. He told the club's official website, www.nufc.co.uk: "It's a lot better than I first thought."
He continued: "I have never had a hamstring problem before. I just felt something bad and I knew straight away I would have to come off. But the scan results came back on Wednesday and it is hopefully three weeks, maybe four maximum.
"It depends on each person, their body and how quickly they recover, but it's a lot better than what we first thought. Already I'm walking easier than I was on Sunday, so that's a good sign."
Simpson's misfortune struck at just the wrong time for both the right-back and manager Alan Pardew, with Ryan Taylor facing months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury and James Perch having sat out the Villa game with a stiff neck.
The Magpies spent the summer attempting to add another defender to their squad, with Lille's Mathieu Debuchy and FC Twente's Douglas firmly in their sights, but were unable to strike a deal for either.
As a result, the injuries which have struck during the last week or so have proved costly and left Pardew having to ask midfielder Vurnon Anita to drop into the back four at the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Magpies were awaiting news of the injury skipper Fabricio Coloccini has picked up on international duty with Argentina. The Argentina Football Association confirmed the 30-year-old defender has a hamstring problem and although he is staying with the squad for the time being, coach Alejandro Sabella had drafted in Leandro Desabato.
A statement on the AFA's official website, www.afa.org, said: "Fabricio Coloccini has a hamstring injury in the femoral biceps of his right leg. He will travel with the squad to continue treatment with the team doctor."
