Newcastle midfielder Shelvey's hearing is still weeks away

Jonjo Shelvey covers up after his penalty miss at Hull

The midfielder has pleaded not guilty to a charge of misconduct dating back to September’s Championship defeat to Wolves at St James’s Park.

Shelvey is alleged to have used racially-aggravated language towards Romain Saiss during the fixture, which Newcastle lost 2-0.

And it is understood that Shelvey – who faces a minimum five-match ban if found guilty – is set to go before an independent commission in the week before Christmas.

That means that the 24-year-old will be available for tomorrow night’s game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground as well as Championship fixtures against Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Burton Albion.

United manager Rafa Benitez has made no comment on the charge.

However, the club issued a statement earlier this month confirmed that Shelvey would plead not guilty.

Shelvey has been an influential figure on the pitch for Championship-leading United so far this season.

The England international has scored three goals – and set up five more – in the league so far this season.

Meanwhile, Isaac Hayden says Newcastle’s visit to the City Ground can’t come quickly enough with Benitez’s team looking to put back-to-back defeats behind them.

Newcastle’s nine-game unbeaten run came to an end last weekend. And Hull City knocked United out of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

Newcastle took the lead in extra-time, but Mohamed Diame’s strike was quickly cancelled out and the home side went on to win 3-1 on penalties.

“The good thing about football is there’s always an opportunity to bounce back quickly,” said Hayden.

“This cup game was unfortunate, and a bit frustrating on our part to concede almost straightaway after scoring the goal. We maybe need to show a bit more control there.

“But that can happen, it happened, it went to penalties and we lost.”

The cup game had an added edge for summer signing Hayden, who spent last season on loan at the KCOM Stadium from Arsenal.

“I was trying to prove myself against the lads who were playing ahead of me last season,” he said.

“It’s always good for me to try to show what I can do. I gave it 100% and I left it out on the pitch.”

Forest, 17th in the Championship table, have won their last two games.

“They’re all tough games in the Championship,” said Hayden.

“The Blackburn match was tough too. This is exactly the same.

“They don’t come easy, and we need to regroup now.”