Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Ben Arfa to make shock return to Newcastle team... just in time to face bitter ... - Daily Mail


By Declan Warrington


PUBLISHED: 04:30 EST, 9 April 2013 | UPDATED: 04:31 EST, 9 April 2013


Hatem Ben Arfa is to make a shock return from injury for Newcastle in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.


The talented winger had earlier been ruled out for the remainder of the season by manager Alan Pardew but looks likely to be available for selection as Newcastle attempt to edge Paolo Di Canio's Sunderland closer to relegation.


'What has happened with Hatem is the scan has shown he has scar tissue still in the hamstring,' Pardew said of the player who was on Friday given a 49-day ban from driving and fined £5,100 after being caught speeding at 110mph in a 70mph zone in his Mercedes.


Swagger: Hatem Ben Arfa is Newcastle's most talented player

Swagger: Hatem Ben Arfa is Newcastle's most talented player



'He is showing no ill-effects from it.


'We have sent him to three experts, mainly a French expert, who have been looking after him.


'He thinks he is now 100 per cent and we are now treating him as that.


'He is running and there could be a cameo as soon as Sunderland – he has a week’s work.




Alan Pardew


Paolo Di Canio


Touchline passion: Both Alan Pardew and Paolo Di Canio will be targeting three points on Sunday




'If he gets through that work, then he could be involved. It would be a massive bonus for us, but it is still too early to call.


'After the last time, we said he would not play again this season. Half of me thought he might, though. I just wanted to clear his mind and see how he reacted.


Ben Arfa is unquestionably among Newcastle's most influential players so to have him available, for a fixture in which defeat would give their bitter rivals a great chance to escape the relegation battle and to drag Newcastle in, is a significant boost.




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