Rafael Benitez will make a late decision on Dwight Gayle ahead of Newcastle's game at home to Cardiff on Saturday.
Gayle is close to recovering from a hamstring injury and has trained this week but Benitez must decide if the striker is ready for competitive action.
Midfielder Matt Ritchie will miss the game as he serves a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards.
Newcastle are three points clear at the top of the Championship table after registering six league victories in a row.
Cardiff are unlikely to risk Rickie Lambert as the former England striker recovers from a nasty leg injury.
Lambert needed internal and external stitches after colliding with Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic two weeks ago, but the 34-year-old should return to action after the international break.
Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock says he has a few decisions to make following some illness at the training ground this week.
Frederic Gounongbe and Kenneth Zohore hope to be included in the matchday squad after scoring in the under-23 side's 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace in midweek.
Match facts
- Newcastle have won their last eight consecutive league games against the Bluebirds, a run stretching back to 1981.
- Cardiff have lost 16 of their last 17 league trips to St James' Park, the exception being a 4-0 hammering in November 1963.
- If the Magpies can beat Cardiff, it will be their joint-longest winning run against an opponent in league history, winning nine against Walsall between 1893 and 1961.
- Cardiff have won two of their last three away league games, as many as they had won in the 13 prior to this run.
- Newcastle have won their last six consecutive league games, last winning seven on the bounce between March and April 2010 in the season they won promotion from the Championship.
Officials
Referee: TONY HARRINGTON
Assistants: Philip Dermott and Christopher Akers
Fourth Official: Darren England