Wales international Robert Earnshaw will miss Nottingham Forest's televised Championship clash against league leaders Newcastle.

The striker suffered a calf injury last week while training with John Toshack's national side and is expected to be out for around four weeks.

Reds boss Billy Davies will hope that another Wales player Chris Gunter will return from international duty unscathed. The right-back played both his country's World Cup qualifying games, in Finland at the weekend and in Liechtenstein on Wednesday night.

On-loan midfielder Radoslaw Majewski, meanwhile, reported back with a clean bill of health after representing Poland's Under-23 side.

Forest will again be without defenders Julian Bennett and James Perch (shin), although the latter has resumed training.

The game sees the return to the City Ground of former Forest boss Colin Calderwood, who is assisting Newcastle's caretaker manager Chris Hughton.

Hughton has concerns over defensive duo Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini.

Taylor is nursing a hamstring strain and Coloccini has been struggling with a groin problem but both players will be given time to shake off their respective injury problems.

Hughton has been boosted after Marlon Harewood and Jose Enrique were passed fit to face Billy Davies' men after recent knocks.

The Magpies will face a Forest side that have won their last three fixtures and Hughton told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "Their early season form wasn't so good but they are in very good form now and will be looking forward to taking us on.

"They have a lot of good options around the pitch and we expect a tough game."