By Alan Duffy

With so many gifted African players now plying their trade in the Premier League, the African Cup of Nations has become something of an issue for managers in the top division, particularly as it is held slap bang in the middle of the season.

Papiss Cisse had a very quiet game last Sunday before he was replaced by Shola Ameobi after 72 minutes. Papiss Cisse had a quiet outing against Sunderland And after Shola came on he got the penalty and also scored that dramatic equalizer in stoppage time for his home town club. We think what probably happened is the intensity of the game took Papiss by surprise, [.

Alan Pardew revealed at his press conference for the Arsenal game this week that his players were upbeat in training. Shola Ameobi - after scoring vital equalizer last Sunday And the Newcastle manager believes this was because the lads have put the Sunderland game behind them, and that was always going to be a potential banana skin, and Pardew was pleased Newcastle came out of the game with a draw, and [.

There's no doubt it was a tough game and Newcastle won yesterday without eight of their first team squad, who were all out injured. Alan Pardew we won a battle yesterday Those players were Steven Taylor, Leon Best, Sylvian Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Cheick Tiote and Gabby Obertan.

Newcastle fans will have to get used to seeing some of their top players linked with other clubs this summer. Demba Ba - after scoring against Man United congratulated by Ameobi There was a story a couple of days ago that Chelsea were interested in both Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul and Ivorian midfielder Cheick [.

19 year-old Frenchman Mehdi Abeid gets a start this afternoon and comes in as a direct replacement for Cheick Tiote. And Ben Arfa comes in as the withdrawn striker to play just behind Leon Best up front, with the two Ameobi bothers both on the bench this afternoon. And Gabriel Obertan makes a surprise return on the [.

Sammy Ameobi will be out for months with an injury he picked up yesterday just before the hour mark in Newcastle Reserves 3-1 win at home to Wigan Athletic. Sammy Ameobi in action for England U21 side in November The 19 year-old could be out for a number of months, and the England under-21 player was injured when he was in a 50-50 [.

By Alan Duffy

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Newcastle United FA Cup 29th January 2012

Oh how Newcastle boss Alan Pardew must be counting down the hours 'til his double dose of Dembas, Ba and Papiss Cisse, return to the north-east of England.

It probably hasn't escaped your attention that Northumbria bizzies have been investigating what have been described as "sickening" racist comments about Newcastle United forward, Shola Ameobi, on Facebook. This comes after recent similar comments about his younger brother and teammate Sammy Ameobi on Twitter.

It probably hasn't escaped your attention that Northumbria bizzies have been investigating what have been described as "sickening" racist comments about Newcastle United forward, Shola Ameobi, on Facebook. This comes after recent similar comments about his younger brother and teammate Sammy Ameobi on Twitter.

Demba Ba returns to the starting line up this afternoon for Newcastle United against Aston Villa at St. James' Park. As expected Shola Ameobi makes way for the Senegal striker and his team-mate Papiss Cisse in on the bench. Ba will partner Leon Best up front, and this looks like a decent team for Newcastle today.

Football's season horribilis continues apace. On a day when all eyes were focussed on the horrible happenings at Old Trafford, There was more sad news in terms of racism, with Manchester City star announcing that he was closing his Twitter account due to receiving racist abuse from numerous morons. After recent incidents involving Shola Ameobi [.

It will be very difficult for Shola Ameobi to get too many starts for Newcastle when Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are both fit. Shola Ameobi willing to fight for his place Shola signed a new contract last year, and it now has two years to run through this summer, but we wonder if this will [...]

It seems that Sammy Ameobi thinks he will be back soon for the Newcastle side this season. Sammy Ameobi hopes to return soon Sammy injured his knee in a Newcastle Reserve game against Wigan on 10th January, and at the time this is what a club spokesman said about the injury: "Sammy Ameobi will be sidelined for a period [.

szólj hozzá: Ba misses penalty v Sunderland

Alan Pardew's celebration which included going after Martin O'Neill ended up being premature as Demba Ba pushes his PK tamely to Mignolet. Referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot after Campbell brought down Shola Ameobi.

As it were Newcastle did pull off an added time equalizer through Ameobi, something of a Sunderland giantkiller.

Newcastle fans had some good news this morning that both Leon Best and Sylvain Marveaux could be back before the end of the season. Sammy Ameobi 19 year-old youngster coming back And there's more good news this morning that Sammy Ameobi will also be back soon. Sammy Ameobi was speaking at the launch of Sport Relief, and he had this to say when asked what his [.

Shola Ameobi was born in Zaria in Nigeria, and he moved to Newcastle when he was just five years old in 1987. Shola Ameobi playing last year with broken cheek-bone So Shola has been raised as a Geordie so it's hardly surprising he represents the local lad who has been a supporter of the [...]

It's another important game for Newcastle today at West Brom, and hopefully we can make amends for losing at St. James' Park 3-2 in December. It seems that Cheick Tiote will definitely miss this game, and others still injured at Newcastle for this game include Ryan Taylor, Sammy Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands, Leon Best, Steven Taylor [.

Leon Best seems determined to make it back before the end of the season, so he can help Newcastle with their European push. Leon Best in Ireland's colors With Peter Lovenkrands out for the season, we only have Shola Ameobi as back-up to Senegal strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, so it would be good to [.

Full match video of today's Newcastle United v Bolton game. A 2-0 victory featuring a superb solo goal from Hatem Ben Arfa, and a further goal from Papiss Cisse which featured an excellent assist from Shola Ameobi. Howay the Lads! Newcastle United v Bolton match highlights and post match interviews. Teams Newcastle United (4-3-3): Tim [.

By Chris Wright

Photos, lovely Bank Holiday photos! Get 'em while they're hot...

'Twas a damp old night at The Cottage

Leon Osman receives a surprise Guaye hug from behind as Gardner and Meta-Gardner look on

Ryan Nelsen goes arse-over-tit as Steve Morison emerges with the ball

Shay "just can't believe the goal was" Given

Papiss Cisse finds the back of then net again

Whatever it is that Mahamadou Diarra has just seen looks like it will haunt him for the rest of his living days

Huthball!

Shola Ameobi looks in good form, and we've been hearing from the Newcastle manager Alan Pardew that the 30 year-old has been impressive in training. Shola Ameobi after scoring equalizer against Sunderland And certainly Shola used all his vast experience on Monday when he came on for Demba Ba after 64 minutes and played very intelligently.

Newcastle could have Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux back on the bench for Newcastle at Stamford Bridge tonight. Danny Simpson could start tonight And it appears that right back Danny Simpson, who was taken off at Wigan with an ankle problem, will be fit for tonight's game against Chelsea. Newcastle still have Sammy Ameobi [.

Even if Newcastle don't sign any players in the summer, which will not be the case of course, the club has some excellent talent coming through. A good close-up of 20 year-old Sammy Ameobi Newcastle have youngsters like Haris Vuckic, Shane Ferguson, Mehdi Abeid, Sammy Ameobi and James Tavernier coming through from the youth ranks, [.