NEWCASTLE UNITED will have to cope without Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor tomorrow, but Alan Pardew is confident a much-changed defence will be capable of keeping another clean sheet without them.

Coloccini will be sidelined for at least the next fortnight after damaging his calf in the 2-0 win over West Brom that preceded the international break, while a knee problem will also prevent Taylor lining up against QPR.

In their absence, Mike Williamson and Paul Dummett will line up at the heart of the Newcastle defence, despite never having previously played together in a central-defensive capacity.

It is more than 340 minutes since the Magpies last conceded a goal, their best run since April 2012, and while this week’s enforced reshuffle will inevitably cause a degree of disruption, Pardew sees no reason why his side’s recent solidity should suddenly disappear.

“They (Williamson and Dummett) will start, I make no bones about that,” said the Newcastle boss. “The fact we’re on a winning run should help them as a partnership and they can feel confident we’ve got good ability in the team.

“Williamson was terrific for us last year, and Dummett’s defensive qualities have really come to the fore in this run, whether at left-back or centre-back.

“We have worked well with the back four and it has been pretty settled. It’s obviously not so settled this weekend, which makes it a big challenge, and that will be noted by the QPR players.

“It is a tough call to keep a clean sheet this weekend, but we have capitalised on a solid defensive position to have real pace in the team. As a defender, people sometimes don’t see that when you feel your team is going to score, it breeds confidence.

“There have been times when I have been manager of the team that the back five have not felt like that, have taken risky passes and suddenly you have conceded. It sort of all fits together.”

Williamson started the season alongside Coloccini in Newcastle’s first-choice defence, but having made way for Taylor after picking up a knock at the start of last month, the 31-year-old found himself consigned to the substitutes’ bench on his return to full fitness.

Dummett has spent the majority of his Newcastle career at left-back, but was something of a revelation after he was switched infield in the Capital One Cup win over Manchester City and should have no problem adapting to the role again tomorrow.

The home-grown 23-year-old has not always been a favourite of the Magpies support, but his status has risen considerably this season and he finds himself an integral member of Pardew’s first-choice back four.

“He’s been a player that the fans were slow to respond to, but we always felt he had a massive chance because of his defensive abilities,” said Pardew. “He’s got a tough job on Saturday. He will play at centre-back and will be up against two strikers (Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora) really on their game.

“This will be a big test for him, but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. I’m confident he can deal with it and I couldn’t pay him a higher tribute than that.”

At the other end of the field, Ayoze Perez will continue to lead the attack with Papiss Cisse still struggling to shake off the persistent knee injury that has dogged his campaign.

Perez has scored in each of his last three appearances, following up his first goal in English football at Tottenham with a crucial winner against Liverpool and a virtuoso back-heel flick at West Brom.

The goals have led to the 21-year-old Spaniard being hailed as Newcastle’s next star striker, despite his previous experience having come in the Spanish Second Division with Tenerife.

Pardew is keen to dampen down expectations, although he admits even he has been excited by the speed of Perez’s development.

“He’s fearless at the moment,” he said. “He’s got the wind in his sails and is going along very nicely. He’s been very sharp in training and is a threat.

“If you take your eye off him, he’s a predator, and I’m sure QPR will be having conversations about how to look after him.

“He’s difficult to pin down because his movement is very clever, but he’s a young player. Some of the headlines have been way off the mark – the new Alan Shearer, the new Andy Cole.

“This is a boy who has played three games and those players are legends who have done it all. Ayoze is just setting foot in the Premier League, but I have to say he’s done really well so far. I’m pleased with him.”

Pardew was heavily criticised by Jonas Gutierrez this week, with the Argentinian, who is due to return to training next month, accusing his manager of effectively calling time on his Newcastle career just 20 days after he had surgery for testicular cancer.

Gutierrez had already completed a loan spell with Norwich when he was told to look for a new club last December, and Pardew is adamant his instruction had nothing to do with the winger’s illness.

“It was a pure football decision, and those are decisions that have to be made,” he said. “We’ve supported him and tried to do what we can when his illness was made known to us, before it was known publicly.

“What he has done is absolutely marvellous, to recover like he has. I believe he’s picking up an award. We’re very proud of what he has done. He needs to rest assured it was purely a football decision.”