Steve Bruce has a admitted his relief that Newcastle will not be facing Gareth Bale when they line up against Tottenham on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Wales international will sit out the game with a knee injury as he waits to make his second debut for the north London club after completing a loan move from Real Madrid.
With Harry Kane and Son Heung-min having teamed-up to stunning effect last Sunday - the England skipper provided the assists for all four of the South Korean internationals goals in a 5-2 Premier League win at Southampton and added the fifth himself - Bruce is happy Spurs will not have another weapon in their armoury this weekend.