ROLANDO AARONS could miss up to four matches after it was confirmed he had suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

The Newcastle United midfielder suffered a problem in training at the end of last week, but it had initially been hoped he had suffered nothing worse than a knock.

However, tests have confirmed he has damaged the same hamstring muscles that prevented him from appearing for two months earlier this season.

His latest problem is not believed to be as serious as his initial complaint, but it will still rule him out of this month’s matches with QPR and West Ham and potentially endanger his involvement in the following week’s games against Burnley and Chelsea. He should, however, be available for the Capital One Cup quarter-final with Tottenham on December 17.

Aarons’ absence could hardly have come at a worse time given the recent thigh injury that will sideline fellow winger Gabriel Obertan until well into the New Year.

The Jamaica-born teenager was regarded as a ready-made replacement for Obertan prior to last week’s setback, and Alan Pardew will now have to plan for the next few weeks without two of the players who have been integral to his side’s improved fortunes in the last month.

However, the Newcastle boss will be hoping that Remy Cabella maintains the improvement he has displayed in the last three matches, with the Frenchman set to retain his place in the starting line-up for the visit of QPR at the end of the international break

Aarons tweeted yesterday: “Everything happens for a reason. I’ll be back...again.”

Two of Newcastle’s January matches have been moved to accommodate live television coverage. The home game with Southampton on Saturday, January 17 will now kick-off at 5.30pm, with the away match at Hull City on Saturday, January 31 moved to the earlier time of 12.45pm.

* Newcastle striker Tom Heardman has joined neighbours Gateshead on a month-long youth loan. The 19-year-old academy graduate has scored 13 goals for the Magpies’ development side this season.