Coloccini wore the captain's arm band for the full 90 minutes in Newcastle's 0-2 loss to Manchester City.

Coloccini, who was in question after a stop and start preseason, resumed his role as Toon captain and continues to be manager Alan Pardew's first choice center-back. Now is the time to take a look at Newcastle defenders with upcoming matches against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Hull City, and Stoke City, all good matchups on paper.

Coloccini was held out of Thursday's friendly against Sheffield Wednesday with an undisclosed injury.

This was Newcastle's fourth friendly in the last two weeks, so it's very likely that Coloccini was held out of Thursday's match to rest. As of right now, it seems like he'll be available for the EPL opener against Manchester City on Aug. 17.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is hopeful of convincing Coloccini to stay with Newcastle this summer after the defender left twice this year to be in South America, reports the Mirror.

Pardew wants the defender to honor the remaining two years on his contract, though the player asked to quit the team for personal reasons last season. Coloccini has also been to South America and away from the team twice this year.

Coloccini returned and played a full 90 minutes in Newcastle's 0-1 loss to Fulham on Saturday.

Coloccini wasn't able to keep Newcastle from dropping points against lowly Fulham. The Toon captain will have a decent chance at a clean sheet next week, when Newcastle take on Crystal Palace at home.

Coloccini, who had to go back to Argentina last week on bereavement leave, could play Saturday against Fulham, Chronicle Live reports.

Coloccini will have a fitness check ahead of the match, but with no injury to report, he is very likely to play this weekend, with a solid clean sheet opportunity.

Coloccini will miss Saturday's Premier League match against Hull City due to a death in the family, Goal.com reports.

Coloccini, who just returned from a knee injury, will travel back to Argentina for the services. The length of the bereavement leave is unknown, but his next opportunity to play comes March 15 against Fulham.

Coloccini (knee) started and played all 90 minutes of Newcastle's 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Coloccini had not played since suffering a knee injury back on New Year's Day, but rewarded fantasy owners with a clean sheet in his first game back. Up next is trip to Hull City, who have been tough to shut out recently.