NEWCASTLE UNITED are set to be without leading scorer Papiss Cisse for seven matches after the £9m striker last night effectively admitted his part in the St James’ Park spitting row.

Cisse has apologised for Wednesday’s alleged incident with Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, who has denied claims he spat at the Magpies forward, and both men were last night charged by the Football Association.

Both players have until 6pm tonight to respond to the charge after a three-man panel of former elite referees reviewed footage of the incident after referee Anthony Taylor did not spot it on the night.

If found guilty for the offence by the FA then both players face a lengthy ban of up to six matches. The Newcastle forward could be handed an extended game because he was sent off for elbowing Everton’s Seamus Coleman in December.

Given how Newcastle only have ten remaining Premier League matches to play - starting at Everton a week on Sunday - interim boss John Carver may have to deal with being without a player boasting the best goals-per-minutes on the pitch ratio in the country this season until May.

The African has scored 11 goals despite a stop-start campaign in which his appearances have been severely restricted because of injuries and an Africa Cup of Nations call-up for Senegal.

Cisse said: “I have apologies to make to a lot of people today. Firstly to my teammates and to our supporters, secondly to Jonny Evans, and thirdly to every football fan who saw the incident between myself and Jonny.

“I reacted to something I found very unpleasant. Sometimes it is hard not to react, particularly in the heat of the moment. I have always tried hard to be a positive role model, especially for our young fans, and yesterday I let you down.

“I hope children out there playing football for their clubs and schools this weekend will know better than to retaliate when they are angry. Perhaps when they see the problem it now causes me and my team they will be able to learn from my mistake, not copy it.”

The incident took place in the 38th minute at St James’ Park but referee Taylor had not seen it at the time and the FA waited for his report before deciding what action was required.

Television replays suggested the players spat at one another after Cisse had appealed for a free-kick following a tackle from Manchester United’s former Sunderland loan signing. Evans, however, has taken a different approach and has strenuously denied the allegations.

The Northern Ireland international said: “Having woken up this morning I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from the match. I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse.

"I was totally unaware of any spitting incident and had assumed that the issue at the time was with the challenge and his attempted retaliation to the tackle from the floor.

“During the game Papiss Cisse and I spoke about the incident and it is clear by my reaction in the television footage that I was totally surprised by any suggestion of spitting.

“It is not in my character or in my nature to spit at anybody nor is it something I have ever done or would ever do. It is certainly not something that I did last night."

The spitting row has overshadowed what was an emotional night for Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez. The Argentine was introduced as a 64th minute substitute during the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, which was his first appearance since successfully overcoming testicular cancer last November.

Team-mate and close friend Fabricio Coloccini handed him the captain’s armband after his introduction and Gutierrez, who had not played for the Magpies since October 2013, received a standing ovation.

Coloccini said: “It was great to see Jonas back because he is a close friend of mine. I think everyone in the squad was very happy to see him back.

“It was a small thing I could do for him after the bad times he had. Little things like that to support him can make a big difference. I think it was something special for him in front of our fans in our stadium.

“He’s played here for many years and he always gives everything when he’s on this pitch and in this stadium. I am very happy and very proud to see him back in the team.”