JAK ALNWICK has been passed fit to start for Newcastle United in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland, removing the need for the Magpies to pursue an emergency loan signing.

Alnwick damaged his shoulder in the closing stages of Wednesday’s Capital One Cup defeat at Tottenham, leading to fears he could be forced to sit out this weekend’s game.

With Tim Krul and Rob Elliot already unavailable because of injury, that would have left Alan Pardew with just 17-year-old Freddie Woodman as a goalkeeping option and the Newcastle boss had indicated he would approach the Premier League to seek special dispensation to make a short-term loan.

However, a series of tests yesterday revealed no significant damage to Alnwick’s shoulder, and the 21-year-old is expected to take part in a full training session this morning.

The positive prognosis will be a major relief to Newcastle officials, as a loan application to the Premier League would almost certainly have been rejected.

Yesterday morning, a Premier League source confirmed the organisation would be willing to examine a formal submission from the Magpies, but reiterated the view that Karl Darlow would be regarded as a Newcastle player even though the terms of his season-long loan to Nottingham Forest preclude a recall.

An emergency loan is only permitted if a club has one fit senior goalkeeper, and Darlow’s registration means Newcastle would have had two even if Alnwick had been judged to be injured.

Pardew’s key task over the next two days is to restore the youngster’s confidence following the first-half clanger that led to Tottenham’s opening goal on Wednesday.

Alnwick dropped Christian Eriksen’s cross even though there was nobody within a yard of him, but Moussa Sissoko is confident the third-choice shot-stopper is strong enough to recover from his mistake.

“It (the error) was nothing,” said the Magpies midfielder. “We are not worried about it – anybody can make a mistake in a game. It’s okay and we just have to forget about this. Jak is strong, he will be okay for Sunday.”

Steve Harper, who had been mentioned as a possible short-term acquisition, knows all about the pressures of a Tyne-Wear derby, and the former Newcastle favourite has urged the club’s fans to get behind Alnwick at the weekend.

“Rather than criticism, Jak Alnwick needs a proper Geordie reception when he runs out on Sunday lunchtime to give him a lift before the game,” tweeted Harper. “Get behind the young lad by singing his name to pick him up and watch him grow in response to it.”

Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa’s agent has expressed confidence the winger will find a new club in January after Pardew insisted he did not want the Frenchman back on Tyneside following the collapse of his loan move to Hull City.

“There are a lot of clubs interested in him, despite everything that has been said,” said Michel Ouzaine. “He will have a new club in January, that won’t be a problem, don't you worry.”