Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce is happy with the physical style of his players.
"With four players going away to the African Nations Cup and Sunday seeing the start of a spell of four games in 10 or 11 days when we are likely to pick up injuries the last thing we want is to have any of our players suspended," admitted Allardyce.
"We know that Nicky Butt and Alan Smith are on seven bookings each but they are under instructions to keep playing their normal games.
"Certainly there is no way we are going to ask them to curtail the physical side of their games which is part and parcel of their make-up. We will look at the situation after our next four games."
