Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said a few weeks back that he thought Ben Arfa could return for the Liverpool game a week come Sunday, but it looks like the Frenchman will not make that game.
Hatem Ben Arfa – could feature in last 3 games of seaosn – maybe
It seems the best Newcastle fans can expect, is for the lad to feature in the last 3 games of the season, the home games against Birmingham (May 7th) and West Bromwich Albion (May 22nd), and the game at Stamford Bridge (May 15th), which is sandwiched between the two.
Ben Arfa was injured on October 3rd last year at Eastlands, and is coming back from what was a very serious double fracture of his left leg – the good one unfortunately.
Ben Arfa has now been back in training for a couple of weeks at Newcastle, and hopefully is slowly getting to the point where he can be used as a substitute in a game, and possibly the home game against Birmingham, which Newcastle just have to win.
This is what Alan Pardew said today about the exciting French midfielder:
“He has certainly been working this week,” “We think actually the last three games is a possibility and we are just going to leave it at that, featuring him in some part of those three.”
Ben Arfa, 24, signed permanently for Newcastle in January, for an undisclosed fee, and he was very keen to join the Magpies, and is already a darling of the Newcastle fans, who fully appreciate his great football skills.
However, we all probably shouldn’t hold our breath that he will necessarily feature for the Magpies this season, and the most important thing is for the lad to fully recover before he plays again.
However, on the other hand, it would also be good if he can get onto the pitch, before the end of the season and the long summer break.
We’ll see what happens, but it looks like manager Pardew and the Newcastle medical staff are doing the exact right thing, and not hurrying the mercurial player back too soon.
Comments welcome.
36 comments so far
carrollsinger
Apr 18, 2011 at 8:54 PM
Comment #1Hba will come back and score before the end of the season!
carrollsinger
Apr 18, 2011 at 8:55 PM
Comment #2Oh never done this before but 1st…… yay
Tom4Nufc
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:12 PM
Comment #3Oh dear carrollsinger… You should feel ashamed :p
marcos
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:13 PM
Comment #4Maybe it would be better if we got the 4 points that we need to be safe before Haten Ben Arfa`s return. We don`t know how he will return as he has been sidelined through injury for a long time.I hope that we shall get at least one point from the match against Manchester United. Alan Pardew should play a 4-5-1 formation to pack the midfield.
@marcos_nufc_rj
IrishGeordie
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:16 PM
Comment #5This has to be the team 2mara nite..
…………………………..Harper………………………….
……..Simo…….Willo……….Collo………..Jose…….
…….Barton…..Guthrie……Tiote……..Jonas………
………………………….Ireland……………………………
…………………………Ameobi……………………………
Subs..
Krul
Saylor
Raylor
Ferguson
Lovenkrands
Ranger
and 1 from..Kuqi/Airey/Vuckic….
PureGeordie
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:19 PM
Comment #6——————–Harper——————
———————————————–
Richards—–Taylor—-Colo——Taiwo
————————————————-
Barton——–Nolan—–Tiote—–Johnson
—————————————————
HBA
—————————————————
Doumbia/Lavezzi
forster
Willo
Upson
Gosling
Guthrie
Ireland
Jo/Caicedo/Martins
ochytoon
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:21 PM
Comment #7DO NOT bring HBA back before the end of the season. Its not worth the risk. Look at what happened to Gosling when he was brought back early
IrishGeordie
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:25 PM
Comment #8did the transfer window just open 2nite puregeordie??? lol… doubt we will be feilding that side 2mara nite… lol
Off topic i know as was my last post but why has Xisco + Routledge not been recalled??? With the amount of injuries and suspensions over the last few weeks, these two mite not have done alot on the pitch but atleast would have been competition for the thread bare squad we hav… + imo xisco wud be a better option than kuqi???
SHOOT ME DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!! lol
gorskino10
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:25 PM
Comment #9“The referee will be important in this game. I don’t want the Manchester United factor, with Alex and the way he is with referees, to come into play. ”
Quotes from pardew about Man U and Tiote getting to many cards, Wonder if FA will take note this knowing our luck with em we will get done 4 it.
ochytoon
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:30 PM
Comment #10@IrishGeordie
We can only recall them if there is a recall clause in their loan contracts.
Andy
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:35 PM
Comment #11gorskino10 no doubt about it! £10a on Barton to be first booking, which I think will be his 10th ruling him out
IrishGeordie
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Comment #12aww rite well i take it that the boffins higher up 4got to put that in the contracts… especially as we have never had the best of luck on the injury front you would think that would be a must have in any loan contract…
Reminds me of somthing the same but completely different if u get my drift,, a few years back when we loaned Lumana Lua Lua to Portsmouth and never put in the clause that he couldnt play against us… and what did he do??? Played & Scored…. Sometimes i wonder is it Bert & Ernie incharge of this club….
gorskino10
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:40 PM
Comment #13Totally true, they share the same factor as Barca ALWAYS getting the best of the ref decisions.
I see Barton and Tiote getting sent off. Or a pen to Man United from a FAKE dive by Nani on Willo defending.
gorskino10
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:40 PM
Comment #14Barton or Tiote*
Solaidback
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Comment #15Makes no difference if they get booked as no more susupensions now until the end of the season unless they get a red card that is…. 🙂
ochytoon
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:47 PM
Comment #16Ha I know what you mean but its all down to the club getting the player on loan. If they don’t agree to the contract then t falls through. I reckon the club we’re doing all they could to get rid of Xisco
(Bert & Ernie though really made me chuckle)
PureGeordie
Apr 18, 2011 at 9:53 PM
Comment #17irish geordie – we sure need it to open tonight the way our squad is going, but for tomorrow:
harps
simpson willo colo enrique
jonas barton tiote guthrie ferguson
kuqi
BiffBaffBoff
Apr 18, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Comment #18I would just play him last 10 minutes in the final home game as a cameo role just so he’ll get a magnificent reception from the fans and make him feel welcome, as tbh we are safe and dont really have much else to play for this season, so just let him rest, get fully fit and then next season we can push on (hopefully :D)
lee-nufc
Apr 18, 2011 at 10:20 PM
Comment #19Any news on Ireland?
Weezertoon
Apr 18, 2011 at 10:43 PM
Comment #20Ed you made a mistake, his return isn’t delayed because we shouldn’t be considering playing him until next season. Why risk him when he isn’t fully fit? We can’t expect the lad to come and change everything for us when he’s just had his leg broken, he has to regain confidence in his abilities to play football, and the summer tour of America is the perfect oppurtunity for that, don’t risk him before hand.
Once we’re safe, maybe give him a cameo with no pressure, nothing more.
wynsleap
Apr 18, 2011 at 10:53 PM
Comment #21Don’t understand the need to get this lad onto the pitch this season.
Give him the full close season to recover then give him a hard pre-season work out to get him fit and raring to go for the new campaign.
he could be vital to us next time round.
Same goes for Gosling.
The midfield could be really exciting next season.
Billy1985
Apr 18, 2011 at 11:04 PM
Comment #22dont risk him at all no need we have the players to keep us up and he will be there next season to push for top half/europe position please ap dont risk him
37 BEN ARFA 37
Apr 18, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Comment #23Ireland gonna play tomorrow but he’s not starting, also Harper may be out, Shola having late fitness test?
starting 11 tomorrow:
…………………………….Krul…………………………….
……..Simo…….Willo……….Collo………..Jose…….
…….Barton…..Guthrie……Tiote……..Jonas………
…….…………Ameobi……Lovenkrands………………
SUBS :
Perch
S Taylor
R Taylor
Ferguson
Ranger
Kuqi
37 BEN ARFA 37
Apr 18, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Comment #24anyone know when Kazenga LuaLua and Haris Vuckic are back ???
roshan MAGPIE
Apr 19, 2011 at 1:23 AM
Comment #25i think there is no need to rush ben arfa and Gosling cause they are our future
baro
Apr 19, 2011 at 1:57 AM
Comment #26Hopefully the lads will be determined and committed to this game and pull off a win! We have our Midfield dynamo Cheik Tiote back, and creative attacking midfielder Stephen Ireland back who gives us another choice might start? If Harps is out as rumours say than I’m sure Tim Krul will has the confidence to step into Harps shoes. I’d go with Ameobi starting with Ireland just under him in attacking role, with Ranger being the impact sub which he is best at. Hopefully he will come on 65-70 minute and terrorize Vidic and Ferdinand apart! Also Kuqi did manage to get 2 goals for B’Burn against Man U about 5 years ago so maybe give him a 15 minute run out and see the impact he gives to us.
……………………………Krul…………………………….
Simpson……..Willo…………..Colo……….Enrique
RTaylor……….Barton……..Tiote…………..Jonas
……………………………Ireland………………………..
……………………………..Ameobi………………………
Newcastle United 2 – 1 Manchester
Williamson 5 – min goal
Coloccini 17 – min goal
baro
Apr 19, 2011 at 2:00 AM
Comment #27Howay the lads!!
Brutooon
Apr 19, 2011 at 4:32 AM
Comment #28Ben Arfa will recover next season!
No more ben arfa article until summer
JAMSHA
Apr 19, 2011 at 6:47 AM
Comment #29Lets hope we win this game 1-0
wilko
Apr 19, 2011 at 6:51 AM
Comment #30i feel alot more confident after reading the posts this morning about the game tonight we/ the fans do stick together and get behind the main theme , which is of course the team, i’d like to say i’ve given up getting worked up about games like this , but you can’t help but feel the excitement and optimism, don’t speak too loud because ferguson (saruman) spies will hear us 😉 , but i think we can get something from this game tonight H W T L
RedMissionBells
Apr 19, 2011 at 8:39 AM
Comment #31Although we are all excited to have Ben Arfa back in the team, I do not think it is a wise decision to play the lad this season.
He broke he leg in two places. His career could have been ended there and then. Let him rest, strengthen his muscles and condition his body for top level football again.
I think many of our fans are unrealistic. Some of our fans are saying Ireland should start against Manchester United. Ireland has not played a game in ages! The last time he had a good run out was in Manchester City, not Aston Villa. Like Ben Arfa, Ireland is not match fit. It does not mean if a player has no injuries, he is fit to play. Players need to be conditioned before they can take to the field competitively.
This is something Newcastle has not really understood since the days of Bellamy and Luque. In essence, no injury does not equal to match fit. So for goodness sake, let our long term injury lads like Gosling and Ben Arfa fully recover before we slowly bring them back into the team.
lesh
Apr 19, 2011 at 8:46 AM
Comment #32carrollsinger // Apr 18, 2011 at 8:55 PM
Oh never done this before but 1st…… yay
Oh dear, you shoulda listened to yer mother and kept your hand on ya ha’penny!
DerkaSayWhat
Apr 19, 2011 at 8:47 AM
Comment #33http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/News/Gallery/0,,10278~2341327,00.html
Crawfordladd17
Apr 19, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Comment #34F**k me r strikers r s**t apart from Ameobi because he is strong but Ranger could be good Best is doing well but he is out dam so Kuqi Loverkands wtf
WELSH TOON ™
Apr 19, 2011 at 9:04 AM
Comment #35@ DerkaSayWhat
Everyone looks happy and there all smiling and joking apart from Jose, I hope to god he stays but I have big douts.
SpaceGhost
Apr 19, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Comment #36DerkaSayWhat
Kuqi with his pants down in pic 3! Lol. Tiote the culprit? As reported by The Daily Mail (wannabe newspaper)
HWTL!