Newcastle Hub: Blow for Newcastle as Sissoko is OUT of vital West Ham clash with ankle injury

PUBLISHED: 05:44 EST, 4 May 2013 | UPDATED: 05:53 EST, 4 May 2013

Newcastle's battle to stop their slide into the relegation places took a hit this morning as Moussa Sissoko was ruled out of the crucial clash at West Ham with an ankle injury.

The box-to-box midfielder, who has featured in all 18 Newcastle games since his January move to the North East, turned his ankle in training and did not travel with the rest of the squad.

Striker Shola Ameobi is gearing up to start in the 23-year-old's place.

Blow: Moussa Sissoko (left) is out of Newcastle's crunch clash at West Ham with an ankle injury

Losing the France international will not be welcome news to under-fire Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who find his team 17th place in the Barclays Premier League, five points clear of fellow relegation candidates Wigan.

Club captain Fabricio Coloccini will start for the first time since the February 24 victory over Southampton and will hope to stabilise a defence which shipped six goals in a hopeless display against Liverpool last weekend at St James' Park.

Meanwhile, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is set to deputise at left back in place of Massadio Haidara and James Perch could play in midfield.

Newcastle's front line options have been boosted by the return of Sammy Ameobi from his loan spell at Middlesbrough. The striker scored just once in nine appearances at the npower Championship club.