CHEICK Tioté will miss tomorrow’s visit of Chelsea but, despite his return being put back on a near-weekly basis, manager Alan Pardew is confident the midfielder does not need knee surgery.

The Ivorian was a key part of Newcastle United’s unbeaten start to the season, prompting rumours of a £20m January bid from Stamford Bridge.

He has not featured since October 22 and Pardew has admitted even next week’s trip to Norwich City could be beyond him.

Tioté was initially ruled out of the League Cup tie at Blackburn Rovers but the suggestion was he would make the next game, at Stoke City.

As that approached, he was ruled out, and the pattern has been repeated with each subsequent game.

Despite that Pardew, who has Leon Best available tomorrow after groin trouble, is relaxed about Tioté’s recovery.

He said: “He is not going to be involved (against Chelsea) even though I said last week he would be.

“We must make sure he is right because he is a very important player to us and the results and performances we have had without him have been top-class.

“There is no complication. It is just a little nagging injury which we just cannot get over the line.

“We do not feel there is a need for an operation or to go back to square one.

“It is just time. It is taking a little bit longer than we had hoped.”

Newcastle have played well in the absence of arguably their best player, Danny Guthrie proving a more than capable deputy, contributing to wins over Stoke and Everton, plus last week’s draw at Manchester United.