ALAN PARDEW could have four of his key players returning from injury when Newcastle United travel to West Ham on Saturday.

Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote and Emmanuel Rivieire all have a good chance of being available for the trip to Upton Park after recovering from their various injury concerns.

Skipper Coloccini has been training on his own with Newcastle's physiotherapy team this week, having been sidelined with a calf injury since hobbling off in the closing stages of the 2-0 win at West Brom.

Steven Taylor is back in full training, having come close to making last weekend's win over QPR, with Tiote and Riviere also back in action at the Magpies' Benton base.

Pardew said: "We have had some good news on that front because Coloccini is back training along with Steven Taylor and Cheick Tiote.

“Rolando (Aarons) is not quite ready, but I think he will be around for next week. He's been a big miss after making a great impression on the Premier League in his first three games.

“Some of them are in contention for the weekend, but I don't want to give too much away. It's a great boost because we have had a terrible run of injuries and it's testament to the squad that we have had a great run of results.

“It has been phenomenal and on the training ground this week, it has been really difficult to calm them down. They are on fire and are really enjoying their football.

“We should be in a good place for Saturday. I have got a nice problem in that I've got a few players back and when everything is going well, nothing ever gets questioned. The players readily accept everything and believe in themselves."

Pardew also delivered a positive update on Ryan Taylor's fitness levels after the 30-year-old failed to finish last weekend's win over QPR.

Taylor hobbled off with another knee injury as he made his first Premier League start since March 2012, but the problem is not as severe as first feared.

Pardew said: "We think he will be back training in three to four weeks, which is great news for Ryan and good news for us. The fans were very upset, as we were, with his withdrawal last week, but it's not as bad as we first feared.

“I feared the worst at the time. Ryan had worked so hard to come back from two cruciates and a broken leg and we really don't want him suffering another major injury."

Newcastle travel to a West Ham side one place below them in the table, and while the Hammers slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Everton last weekend, Pardew is expecting Sam Allardyce's side to offer a stiff test.

He said: "We want this run to continue, but West Ham is a tough place to go. I know that stadium better than most and there will be a tremendous atmosphere on Saturday.

”They are only a point below us and on a great run themselves. They probably brought in the best transfers of any team in the summer, and those signings have taken the team forward.

“They are in a very strong position this season and I am convinced it will be a really good game."