Newcastle United midfielder Chieck Tiote major injury doubt for Spurs season opener

Chieck Tiote is an injury doubt for Newcastle United's opening match of the Premier League after getting injured in Saturday's friendly against Cardiff City.

The Ivory Coast international suffered a calf strain in the Magpies' 4-1 defeat against Cardiff and was forced to limp off after 68 minutes.

Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccini also picked up a problem, much to the annoyance of Toon manager Alan Pardew.

Pardew said: "Chieck has a calf strain so we will have to monitor him. We are sweating on him for next Saturday.

"Coloccini also has a knock but I'm not sure how that is. He is due to travel to Argentina but we will have to assess him, too."

Newcastle face a race against time to get both players fit for their first league game at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, August 18.