Shola Ameobi is poised to undergo surgery on his hip in America, with Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder expecting the striker to miss the remainder of the season.
Ameobi has been troubled by a hip complaint for well over a year and the club decided surgery was the only option after a period of rest over the summer failed to alleviate the problem.
The 25-year-old has soldiered on for a couple of months, but the pain has become so intense that he will head to America to undergo surgery.