NEWCASTLE United defender Davide Santon has stepped up his training following knee surgery, but the left-back will not be rushed back to ease Alan Pardew’s defensive problems.

The Italian hasn’t featured since the 4-0 home defeat to Manchester United in April and was forced to have an operation to rectify the problem in the summer.

Santon is back on the training field to build up his fitness and has been doing extra sessions to aid his recovery, but the 23-year-old revealed there is no timescale on his comeback given the severity of his injury.

“I’m training three times a day, every day,” Santon said. “Because I have been out for a long time, I have to see how I feel with my knee.”

Massadio Haidara and Paul Dummett have both proved capable deputies in Santon’s absence, but the Magpies are worryingly short of cover in the middle.

Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor are big doubts for this weekend’s game against Queens Park Rangers at St James’ Park, while Mike Williamson has only just returned from a spell on the sidelines.

Pardew recalled young defender Remie Streete from his loan spell at Port Vale last week, but Dummett is likely to retain his place in the centre after impressing in the wins over Manchester City and West Brom.

Meanwhile, young striker Adam Armstrong has admitted he doesn’t fear playing anyone after his promising display in the Magpies’ Capital One Cup win at the Etihad Stadium last month.

The 17-year-old was handed a starting place by Pardew and has maintained his impressive scoring form for England Under-18s.

The striker has scored 16 in 21 games for the Young Lions and the coaching staff on Tyneside have high hopes for the Newcastle-born front man.

“It was hard, before the (City) game I didn’t really know I was starting until the day so I was nervous to be honest,” Armstrong said.

“To play against experienced international centre-halves [Martín Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala] like that was amazing for me and my development.

"And having played against them, I have the confidence to play against anyone with no fear. That’s the way I see it.”

*Newcastle's FA Youth Cup third round tie at Millwall will be played on Saturday, December 13, at 3pm - when Alan Pardew's senior side are at Arsenal.