Newcastle duo Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini hope to face Manchester United

Fabricio Coloccini: Newcastle captain is battling to be fit to face Manchester United

Alan Pardew says Newcastle United are sweating on the fitness of Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor for the next Premier League game against Manchester United.

Magpies captain Coloccini has made just three appearances this season and returned from a hamstring injury picked up on Argentina duty in last week's Capital One Cup defeat by the Red Devils.

He subsequently sat out Saturday's 2-2 draw at Reading, while fellow centre-half Taylor suffered a hamstring injury early in the second half at the Madejski Stadium.

Both players are expected to miss the Europa League tie against Bordeaux on Thursday and Pardew hopes the defenders will recover in time to face Sir Alex Ferguson's United.

"We have been solid defensively and that was the first game we have been got at, mainly because of taking a centre-half off at that time," said the Newcastle boss.

"Going from right-back to centre-half is a difficult mode and he (Perch) just got caught out.

"He has been brilliant when he has played there, I have no worries about him.

"Colo isn't far away. I think for Manchester United we'll be sweating on Colo and Steven."