Rafa Benitez has spent the past few days poring over video clips of Swansea City after failing to make it to Newcastle on three occasions.
The Spaniard is at home on the Wirral recovering from surgery to an infected hernia wound.
Benitez has been trying to make the journey to Tyneside since the early part of the week but admitted defeat on Thursday when his driver was forced to turn back after just a few miles.
It is unlikely that he will take charge of the team at Swansea but that has not stopped him using his time to help with preparations for the game.