Taylor And Cabaye Ruled Out

By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Alan Pardew has resigned himself to being without star men Yohan Cabaye and Steven Taylor until February as Newcastle's run of rotten luck with injuries continues.

Cabaye had been absent since the home defeat to West Ham with a hernia problem, while Taylor limped off towards the end of last weekend's loss at Southampton with a hamstring complaint.

And the Magpies boss believes both players could be out of action for as long as two months after joining the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic and Adam Campbell on the treatment table.

On Taylor's injury, Pardew said: "It's about six to eight weeks we think, so it's another blow in a series of bad luck for us.

"He's an important player and we hope for a speedy recovery.

"He's cursing his luck a little but unfortunately for Steven his record is that he does pick up injuries. Maybe the fact that we've had to call upon him a little bit more than we would like with injuries and Colo's suspension has probably compounded the issue."

And regarding France international Cabaye, who had scored in successive games just before his injury, the boss explained: "He's had one side of his groin done that and that potentially weakens the other side, so the other side needs to be done. That'll be done I think today or tomorrow and I think he'll be out for eight weeks.

"We're probably looking at both him and Steven (being out until) 1st February so we might as well get the bad news out of the way - because that's what it is - and just focus on what is important and that's what we've got left.

"It is a bit tight for us but we've still got good players. We're asking young players to come in and play in a team that isn't playing very well at the minute and it's tough for them but we spoke to a few of those and I think their heads have got up a little bit, and we go to Stoke and we've still got a very good side."