Shane Ferguson: Your Y! Enabler Extraodinaire

Alan Pardew has revealed that Yohan Cabaye will be ruled out of Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture against Swansea City with a groin injury.

The influential midfielder sat out France's friendly victory over Italy on Wednesday night, and will not be fit in time for the visit of the Swans to St. James' Park this weekend.

Newcastle will also be without Jonas Gutierrez, who hobbled off last Sunday against West Ham with a knee complaint, while Fabricio Coloccini serves the second game of a three-match ban.

But striker Shola Ameobi appears to have got through his senior international debut for Nigeria unscathed, as Pardew gave the media an update on Thursday.

Assuming that Vurnon Anita comes in for Cabaye, and with Check Tiote returning from his suspension, it seems that Shane Ferguson will keep his wide berth in Newcastle's 4-4-2.

In the Yahoo! game, Ferguson is a 2.16 (1.64 on the Barn Door) defender, and at that price and playing out-of-position, he's a wonderful pick for this weekend.

And possibly beyond. Depending on how serious Jonas' injury is, and of course how committed Pardew is to the 4-4-2, Newcastle have a good run of fixtures upcoming - Swansea, @Southampton, @Stoke, Wigan.

If you can't afford Sascha Riether this week because you want to bring in Luis Suarez, Javier Hernandez, or Marouane Fellaini (at retail), then Ferguson is your man.

And for completeness, here's the other bit of NUFC news...

Uncertainty currently surrounds the availability of striker Papiss Cisse, who was also withdraw against the Hammers last weekend.

Nursing a back injury, the front man did not join up with his Senegal teammates for their friendly against Niger on Wednesday, upsetting the national body.

"We feel we covered all the bases in giving them information but they seem to have not received it.

"So we are in discussions with Senegal and the FA about his availability for Saturday.