Claude Makalele

Cheik out the giant hole at Newcastle

Poor old Newcastle United. Always the victims.

No team in the English Premier League is unduly suffering because of the Africa Cup of Nations…apart from the long-suffering, ever-suffering black and whites from the north-east of England.

They are having to make do without the most influential player in the EPL (apart from Arsenal's Robin van Persie) at this crucial point of the season.