Newcastle to miss Coloccini and Janmaat for the final three games

Benitez does NOT expect to have Fabricio Coloccini or Daryl Janmaat available for any of the relegation-threatened Magpies’ final three games.

Newcastle take on Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace at St James’s Park on Saturday knowing a win could lift them out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Benitez had hoped to have captain Coloccini and experienced right-back Janmaat back for the run-in. Defender Coloccini, sidelined since February with a calf problem, suffered a setback earlier this month.

The hand Janmaat fractured punching a door at Southampton is set to keep him out of United’s remaining fixtures.

Janmaat has had surgery on his hand, and would need to play with a protective cast.

The only players likely to return from injury are forward Yoan Gouffran and centre-half Steven Taylor, who are poised to follow Kevin Mbabu out of the treatment room.

Versatile defender Mbabu was on the bench for last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool.

Gouffran limped out of Steve McClaren’s penultimate game in charge, while Taylor suffered a leg strain at St Mary’s Stadium during the 3-1 defeat to Southampton.

Long-serving Taylor, 30, is out of contract in the summer, while Gouffran’s future lies away from St James’s Park after a season on the first-team fringes.

Meanwhile, Pardew – whose side reached the FA Cup final last weekend – will face the media today.

Palace, in 16th place, are nine points above Newcastle and not yet mathematically certain of survival.