JAK ALNWICK has been passed fit to start for Newcastle United in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland, removing the need for the Magpies to pursue an emergency loan signing.

Alnwick damaged his shoulder in the closing stages of yesterday’s Capital One Cup defeat at Tottenham, leading to fears he could be forced to sit out this weekend’s game.

With Tim Krul and Rob Elliot already unavailable because of injury, that would have left Alan Pardew with just 17-year-old Freddie Woodman as a goalkeeping option and the Newcastle boss had indicated he would approach the Premier League to seek special dispensation to make a short-term loan.

However, a series of tests today revealed no significant damage to Alnwick’s shoulder, and the 21-year-old is expected to take part in a full training session tomorrow.

The positive prognosis will be a major relief to Newcastle officials, as a loan application to the Premier League would almost certainly have been rejected.