Newcastle midfielder likely to be fit for Spurs clash

Newcastle expects Cheick Tiote to be fit for Sunday's match against Tottenham Hotspur. The midfielder was kept out of the Magpies' 1-0 win over Leicester over the weekend after returning from international duty, tired and with a sore calf that flared up in warm-ups.

Alan Pardew said that they were being cautious with Tiote over the weekend, saying his calf "was a bit tight." Newcastle have not put him back in full training, nor have they said he will definitely play, but Pardew called the injury "minor" and it certainly looks like he will play against Spurs.

Leicester weren't able to do much that would have made Newcastle miss Tiote. They were pretty unimpressive in the midfield, but the Magpies will certainly need him against Spurs. With Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela both needing tending to, Newcastle can't afford to go into the match without Tiote to run them over so his being fit is a major change in Sunday's clash.