Great news from France, that Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa has been given a clean bill of health by the medical staff at the French Football Academy at Clairefontaine, just south of Paris.
Hatem Ben Arfa – now fully fit according to French medics
It seems that Ben Arfa got the go-ahead around two weeks ago in France, and he is now fully fit, and will return to training at Newcastle a week tomorrow, when pre-season training starts on Tyneside.
Alan Pardew had kept saying that Ben Arfa would be a big player for Newcastle next season, and that he planned to play him in the laid back position behind the main striker – a position captain Kevin Nolan has played with significant success these last two seasons.
So there were questions about where would Kevin play next season, but of course he is now no longer at Newcastle, having joined West Ham United on a bumper contract recently.
Ben Arfa’s English-based adviser Simon Stainrod has continually talked of Newcastle’s excellent handling of the youngster during his long recovery, and Newcastle got great press in France on how they have managed one of France’s most promising young stars, back to fitness.
Simon has today talked to the Sunday Sun with some positive news:
“Hatem has been signed off the sick list and has been for a couple of weeks.” “He’s doing fine – he’s on holiday at the moment but he’s absolutely desperate to get back in among things.”
“He’ll be back at Newcastle for the start of pre-season and while nothing is ever certain with anyone, he’ll really benefit from a full pre-season.”
“The end of the season has come at a good time for him,” “The break has given him a little bit of space.” “There’s no pressure on him, people aren’t asking him when he’s coming back all the time and I think that has helped.”
There was also a big scare for the lad when he had to have a second emergency operation in Paris last November, after the leg had become infected, after first being set in early October.
And it seemed rather serious, but that seocnd operation was a complete success, and we think Alan Pardew was right not to bring him back last season, but let him have a few more weeks to fully recover.
We just love this player, and even more so now, after the courage and dedication the 24 year-old he has shown in getting himself back to full fitness.
It will be terrific to have Ben Arfa back in full training a week tomorrow, and we’re sure the Newcastle fans will give this brave youngster a great welcome back to Newcastle.
He certainly deserves it.
Comments welcome.
155 comments so far
Stuart
Jun 26, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Comment #1Fantastic news. Him and Cabaye are going to be our main men next season like I reckon.
WWJBD
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Comment #2About time too
Now let’s hope he lives up to the hype
JTOONJ
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Comment #3He needs to be fit to run down the wings and cross them in for BA! Goal machine
BonVoyageBenny
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #4Fantastic news, looking forward to having back in the side, a proper class talent. We can’t put too much pressure on him, despite the expectations, as it’ll be difficult. Best of luck to him.
nufcgaz687
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Comment #5i cant wait to see him back in action i think him playing in behind Ba there will be goals flowing through out the season
geoff777
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #6Excellent news for NUFC … scary news for all the other EPL teams.
HWTL
Stuart
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Comment #7There arent too many rumours today considering its a sunday like.
Robby Bobson
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #8Reckon we need to build team around him to get the most out of him….have 10 players who are organised and can keep the ball and have hba doing whatever the hell he wants.
Our team this season had the midfield to dominate games so i really do wonder how far we would have gone if we had hba floating in front of barton tiote nolan and guti.
I think well play 433 and let hba abd marveaux float in and around the striker, hence why we are being linked with another centre mid
JAMSHA
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Comment #9Finaly sum good news on beni, cnt wait to c him score wonder goals 🙂
Cheick and Bake
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #1010/11 player of the year —–> Hatem Ben Arfa
BigKirky
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Comment #11Can’t wait to see him amongst hopefully a good passing team which has pace next year. I really want a good Ben arfa song to be made too.
Thump
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Comment #12@Cheick and Bake: As much as I enjoyed watching him, I think he’s far from PotY. It was like when Andy Johnson came on in the same game and got MotM after scoring one goal and not a lot of much else.
Can’t wait to see him run rings around De Jong and the Scum. Howay, Benny – tear them apart on the pitch.
Cheick and Bake
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Comment #13i just hope he doesn’t flop like luque did after his injury
Stuart
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Comment #14Luque was never good enough to flop, he was just 5hite full stop haha.
Chaz
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #15I’m sure we’re all hoping that he’ll reproduce the form he showed before last season was unmercifully and cruelly cut short for him by that blue mooner, dutch thug DeJong.
It will be a very different Newcastle side that takes to the field this season and I hope they find a blend of football that is able to dominate in possession and is able to penetrate defences.
Hard work, the ability to win the ball back quickly, tight defensive play and lightning quick on the counter attack.
Another week and they’ll be back for ‘pre-season’ and that is when the fun will start!
The expectation at the start of last season was good and the players delivered.
There is still a long time to the end of the transfer window and we’ll continue to torture ourselves with speculation, rumor and disinformation. Sad but true.
Andy
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Comment #16Alan Hutton looks like he will be released by spurs on a free. Worth a try? Probably better than Simpson
Stuart
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Comment #17I’d take Alan Hutton like, definately a better RB than Simpson. How come he’s on a free, contract running out?
OneAlanShearer
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Comment #18Fantastic news abot Ben Arfa, hoefully he’ll get back without any issues. Good Luck lad.
No thanks to Hutton.
connor_nufc
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Comment #19U mean adam johnson
Andy
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Comment #20Heard on radio they’re terminating his and bassongs contract. not to sure how true but he’s not a bad player
~Vive la révolution de Châteauneuf~
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Comment #21Id take Hutton on a free.
@Connor_nufc
Adam Johnson? You think we can land Adam johnson?!
WWJBD
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Comment #22Hutton and Bassong…why don’t we try and get both? Would beef up our defence for (near enough) free
Mags
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Comment #23Fantastic news. Welcome back Hatem. Look forward to seing you get up and ‘atem! 😀
I’ll get my coat.
ross armstrong
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Comment #24FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS BOY HAS SOME TALENT AND IF WE CAN KEEP HIM FIT I CAN SEE GOOD THINGS COMING TO THE TOON!!!
WELCOME BENNY WE ALL LOVE YOU
dmac
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Comment #25Think he was correcting the guy that said andy johnson scored n got man of the match. I’d deffo take Bassong back if he was free.
ross armstrong
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Comment #26MAGS THAT WAS BAD LOL
me dad used to say – whys temuri good??? cos he kets bai ( gets by ya )
AL GET ME COAT
Spuggy
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Comment #27Really pleased HBA has pulled through, can’t even express how gutted I was last season when it all went horribly wrong.
@ Chaz – I agree about working as a unit winning the ball back – I think Cabaye has strong defensive capabilities as well, so him and Tiote should be an excellent combination – how the Barton saga plays out is anyones guess?! I for one would love to keep him but doesn’t look likely.
We’re not far off a top quality first 11, but we need more depth – especially up front, on the wings and at LB.
Thump
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Comment #28Was thinking the same thing Stuart!
And aye, Adam Johnson. That’s what I get for multitasking!
Mags
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Comment #29Ross- 26 I know, after you oot the door! 😀
Thump
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Comment #30Glad you explained that one, Ross. For a second I thought you were trying to sell me horse tranquiliser. (Ketamine. Because the street term for it is ‘Ket’. That’s the joke.)
ross armstrong
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Comment #31LOL @ MAGS
Thump
Jun 26, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Comment #32~*french goes here*~: He was talking to me, fella. I said ‘Andy Johnson’ for some reason in an earlier post.
cainezy
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Comment #33Wwjbd wtf are you talking about , about time he’s sustained a very horrific injury and. Here’s you shouting bout time too what do you think hatem is super man he’s not going to play if he is injured or going to give himself further injury I hate people like can’t believe you said that hatem ben arfa what a player he has done everything he can to get over this injury and also has sang praises for are club tohelp us sign player what a legend hate people like you tbfh
nufcgaz687
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Comment #34slow on here today we normally linked with every player in the world on a sunday whats going on
boater
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Comment #35Good news – he was exciting against everton – but struggled against Stoke… which people have coveniently forgotten amidst all the fanfare. He is a good squad option for us, and a real live-wire – however all these people talking about him scoring wonder goals all season long and tearing defences apart at will – I think you must be slow learners, or children, or both – so naive it’s embarrassing!
As for Bassong – relegated with two clubs in a row, dropped at spurs, statistically we wouldn’t have gone down that season had he not been played such was his record when he played.
Those people suggesting he comes back – I can only assume you miss watching us play in the championship each week.
Offkey
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Comment #36@ Boater
Bit aggressive their mate. You must be reading other comments than what I am reading……it just sounds like a bunch of fans exited by the potential of a decent player. I dont think they truly believe he will perform in every match, maybe I’m wrong, but your comment seemed to turn a nice little chat about an exciting player into an argument of sorts.
nufcgaz687
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Comment #37Offkey
well said was about to post the same sort of thing Boater lighten up pal
JackButler
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Comment #38We need to be patient with HBA next season, expecting him to go tearing up the league after being out for almost the entire season.
WWJBD
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Comment #39Routledge won promotion twice in a row he must be a world beater by that logic
arfa chance
Jun 26, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Comment #40With River plate looking at relegation, its a shame we aren’t looking at south american players there a no 10 Eric Lamella looks like he could be mint. One for the future