Steve Bruce says that his immediate answer to the club's centre-back crisis will be to turn to Isaac Hayden to slot into his defensive rearguard.
The Magpies, incredibly, beat Southampton 3-2 but ended the match with no recognised centre-backs on the field as left-back Paul Dummett and midfielder Hayden teamed up in a 4-4-0 formation.
Fans have asked whether Florian Lejeune can return from his loan with Alaves in Spain earlier, but Bruce has played that possibility down recently.
As it stands, Bruce should have Ciaran Clark back available for Chelsea, Fede Fernandez is pushing for fitness, while Hayden can slot into the back four.
On Hayden's flexibility, Bruce said: “When he was a kid, he played there for Arsenal, and when I took him to Hull, I remember my chief scout at the time thought that his best position was as a centre-back.
“He thought Isaac’s best position was playing as a central defender, and when he produces a performance like that, then you can understand why.
“It’s good to have, and we certainly needed him. We’re down to the bare bones, and then with losing another one with Fab Schar, it’s a ludicrous situation really.”
