JONAS GUTIERREZ could yet make an emotional final appearance for Newcastle United after a proposed return to Argentinian side Velez Sarsfield broke down.

Gutierrez, who has successfully completed his recovery from testicular cancer, was given permission to return to his homeland last week in order to negotiate a possible move to Velez, the club at which he started his career.

The 31-year-old had hoped to secure a long-term contract with the Buenos Aires-based side, but talks proved unproductive and he has subsequently returned to Tyneside.

He will take part in full training this week, in the hope of securing a return to the first-team squad in the remaining 13 games of the season.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the campaign, he will be released as a free agent in the summer, so it remains to be seen whether he has made his final senior appearance for the Magpies.

He has played in a number of development games since completing his cancer treatment, but is still to be part of a first-team squad.

With Newcastle likely to be safe from relegation with a number of games to spare, there will be an emotional push for Gutierrez to be granted a final appearance before severing his ties with the Magpies, who he joined in 2008.