Manchester City centre-back Manuel Akanji is facing up to 10 weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The Switzerland international requires surgery after being forced off at half-time of City's Champions League loss to Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
This weekend's game between two rivals for top-four places comes at an awkward time for City between the two legs of their play-off tie against Real, the first of which they agonisingly lost 3-2.
They now face a tough challenge to turn things around at the Bernabeu and reach the last 16 and Guardiola hopes a good performance against Newcastle can change the mood.
Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday he expected the 29-year-old to be out for "eight to 10 weeks", which would mean him missing most of the rest of the season.
