The Frenchman is around five to six weeks away from a return to action after damaging his left ankle - the leg in which he suffered a double fracture last season - during a pre-season friendly against Sporting Kansas City.
Mike Williamson (broken arm) and Danny Guthrie and Shane Ferguson (both ankle) are fit, but Pardew has revealed Ferguson will not start as a direct replacement for Liverpool-bound left-back Jose Enrique after only just returning to full training, while transfer-listed Joey Barton must assure the manager of his commitment if he is to be selected.
Dan Gosling is desperate to make up for lost time as he prepares to launch his Newcastle career in earnest against Arsenal tomorrow evening.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who joined the club from Everton last summer, has made just one brief appearance to date - as a late substitute in the 1-1 derby draw at Sunderland in January - as a result of the knee injury with which he arrived.
But having recovered from the setback which followed his involvement at the Stadium of Light and safely negotiated pre-season, he is finally ready to make an impact at St James' Park after a gruelling fight for fitness.
Gosling admitted: "It was really hard for me. Some of the sessions were tough and there were some dark days where I didn't think I could do it, but I got through it.
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