JONAS GUTIERREZ will make his eagerly-awaited return to action in Newcastle’s development team game with West Ham United on Monday afternoon.

Gutierrez has spent the last two weeks building up his fitness on the training ground following his return to the North-East from his native Argentina.

Having successfully overcome testicular cancer, the 31-year-old is ready to return to competitive action, and Pardew has earmarked next week’s second-string game at Whitley Park as the ideal opportunity for him to ease himself back into the fold.

Gutierrez’s last appearance for Newcastle came in October 2013, and Pardew is looking forward to seeing him back in action.

“We haven’t been around Jonas much this week because we were at Tottenham, but he's fine,” said the Magpies boss. “It’s great to have him back.

“I had a quick chat with him and he’s going to play against West Ham on Monday in the reserves. That's his first game for a while, but he's obviously done a lot of running and has been looking after himself.

“He had trained with a team in Argentina with a football, but is still a bit rusty with it, but that will come. It will be great for everyone to have him back and good for everyone to see him back in a Newcastle shirt. It will be good if a few of our fans want to travel to the game on Monday.”

Gutierrez will thank Newcastle fans for their support in a video message that will be aired on the big screen at St James’ Park prior to tomorrow’s Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland.

* Three of Newcastle’s games have been rearranged in the latest round of television announcements. The home game with Stoke City has been moved to Sunday, February 8 (2.05pm), which means the away match at Crystal Palace will now take place on Wednesday, February 11 (8pm). The game at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium will now kick off at 5.30pm on Saturday, February 21.