Soccer:Newcastle manager Alan Pardew fears Alan Smith could be out for the season with the ankle injury he sustained in last weekend's derby against Sunderland.

The midfielder had a scan on the joint yesterday and complications from a previous injury mean his absence is likely to be far longer than first thought.

Pardew said: "It's sad news for Alan because it's an ankle he's had problems with and we think he'll probably be out for the rest of the season.

"Because he's had a dislocation and a break on that ankle before, when you get a heavy blow like he did it's a very low recovery rate."

Pardew is also likely to be without striker Andy Carroll for another two or three weeks while Dan Gosling has suffered a setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has been dealt a fresh blow by the news that strike Danny Welbeck could be out for up to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

Welbeck, who is on loan from Manchester United for the season, underwent an operation on Wednesday to repair a torn knee cartilage a day after former team-mate Darren Bent had sealed his big-money switch to Aston Villa.

That leaves Bruce with only one fit senior striker - record signing Asamoah Gyan - for Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Blackpool.

Bruce said: "Danny was operated on yesterday and it was confirmed he had a torn cartilage and he will be (out for) six to eight weeks."