Crystal Palace vs Newcastle: Alan Pardew faces selection dilemma as Papiss Cisse and Yoan Gouffran among those struck down by sickness

Pardew is fighting to save his job but his battle has not been made any easier after a string of injuries and illness

Alan Pardew (Getty Images)

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew may be under significant pressure to turnaround performances at the club, but he will need to do so without a number of key players after illness swept through the Magpies squad.

Pardew managed to survive the weekend after two Papiss Cisse goals helped Newcastle salvage a 2-2 draw with Hull, having been two-goals down and heading for apparent defeat. Reports suggested that Pardew would have been sacked had the result gone against Newcastle, who currently sit bottom of the Premier League table.

The Capital One Cup would have offered Pardew an escape this week as expectations are not as high for the cup competition, but Pardew looks set to be without a number of players for the trip to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The Magpies look set to be without Cisse – who has only just returned from a lengthy injury – while goalkeeper Tim Krul and forward Yoan Gouffran are also likely to miss the trip. The Senegalese striker was said to be coughing heavily following his double on Saturday, and joins Siem de Jong, Davide Santon, Ryan Taylor and Rolando Aarons on the sidelines.

With Krul absent, ex-Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot will deputise between the sticks, and Pardew could also hand a first start to Newcastle-born striker Adam Armstrong given his options up front are severely depleted.