Central defender was injured playing for his country in their recent World Cup qualifiers.
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Newcastle United look set to be without influential skipper Fabricio Coloccini for some time through injury after the Premier League side confirmed the defender had returned home to Argentina to undergo his recovery from a groin problem, according to reports in the Journal.
The highly rated centre back suffered the setback while away on international duty with his country last week, with Coloccini being forced to sit out the Magpies’ entertaining and hard-fought 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the top flight at St James’ Park in front of the live TV cameras on Saturday lunch time.
However, it is now feared by Newcastle head coach Alan Pardew that his key captain could be out of action for a lengthy period of time with the groin problem, which explains the north-east giants’ decision to send Coloccini back to his homeland to recuperate and undergo further treatment on the injury.
Either way, though, the 31-year-old will definitely be absent from Newcastle’s back four for Sunday afternoon’s massive Tyne-Wear derby against arch-rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, which is a huge loss to Pardew and Co.
But there was some light at the end of the tunnel for the under-pressure Geordies’ manager with the news that central defender Steven Taylor will be back from suspension to take line up against the Black Cats.