Newcastle United FC may be without captain Fabricio Coloccini for another seven weeks after he broke two bones in his back while making a clearance in a Premier League game in February.

Manager Alan Pardew confirmed that the 31-year-old central defender had been allowed to return to his native Argentina for treatment ahead of his side's UEFA Europa League round of 16 opener against FC Anji Makhachkala, explaining: "There's no treatment he can have. It's going to be between three and seven weeks."

Coloccini had landed awkwardly after executing an overhead clearance during Newcastle's 4-2 league victory over Southampton FC on 24 February. He has made six appearances since the start of the UEFA Europa League group stage.