Despite some underwhelming performances so far this season, one of Newcastle's brightest shining stars (along with Jack Colback and the emerging form of Daryl Janmaat) has been young Rolando Aarons. Cast off by Bristol City as a youngster the Jamaican signed for the Toon a couple of years ago and has made the breakthrough into the first-team with aplomb. To say he represents the best sweetener for the loss of Hatem Ben Arfa is something of an understatement, and as usual Newcastle fans have already heaped pressure on him as the Next Big Thing. Unfortunately for the player, who should have been in for a start against Southampton thanks to his sublime work from the bench against Crystal Palace - and indeed for the fans hailing him as the new messiah - Aarons is now injured. He is the latest player - following the long lay-off for Siem De Jong - to be ruled out, having picked up a hamstring injury in training, and he won't be able to help Alan Pardew wipe away memories of the grim 4-0 loss at St Mary's last season. That is no easy task, even with Southampton decimated by injuries, because Southampton spent very, very well in the summer, including signing Toby Alderweireld, who Newcastle should be slapped for not trying to get, and they have a strong team:
Southampton away is a fixture that has been hard on us the last couple of years, and we need to improve on that. Were committed to get the best performances out of the squad. Weve mainly looked strong this season and need to take that on.
That "mainly" is a new development, and perhaps indicative of Pardew getting to grips with how disappointed the fanbase are so far this season. And rightly so: he should expect a particularly poor reception this weekend and at next week's home game with Hull. The good news - or bad depending on your opinion of the player - is that Ivorian enforcer Cheick Tiote is back for this weekend's game, having come through two international appearances, and the transfer window without leaving the club. Whether he sticks around in January is another matter, but at least he's another body back in the fold.