Like the rest of the Newcastle squad not on International duty, Ben Arfa reported back to training at the Benton headquarters yesterday morning.
Ben Arfa – back in training at Newcastle
A member of Ben Arfa’s family was taken ill early last week and Alan Pardew gave the French International compassionate leave, so he could travel to Tunisa to be with his family.
Ben Arfa had been penciled in to start for the Reserves when they traveled to Bolton Wanderers last Tuesday night, but he was unable to participate in Newcastle’s easy 3-0 win, when they fielded a very strong side.
And Ben Arfa will no doubt have more than a passing interest in France’s home game in Paris tonight, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, because a draw will be enough for France to win the group and get through to the finals to be played in next summer.
It’s the last game of Group D and Bosnia and Herzegovina are just one point behind France.
We don’t know if Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye will play in the game tonight, after suffering what turned out to be a slight ankle injury last Thursday night, in helping France win 3-0 against Albania.
Ben Arfa trained yesterday with the rest of the squad in preparation for the Premier League game with Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, and it promises to be some game, and a big test for the Magpies.
We expect Ben Arfa to again be on the bench for that game, but if he can push through and become a regular first teamer at Newcastle, which we expect he will, then he has every chance to be back in the French squad, and hopefully can play in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.
It would be great to see both Cabaye and Ben Arfa in the French squad next summer, and maybe a couple other players of Newcastle’s growing French contingent on Tyneside could make the French squad too.
Once the Internationals complete tonight, we expect a growing excitement and anticipation about the upcoming game against Tottenham on Sunday, and Newcastle have a good chance of winning that game.
Comments welcome.
17 comments so far
Ollieh51
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #14 – 5 – 1 This weekend with Benny playign off’ve Best please Pards.
Thanks.
niffnoff
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Comment #2We already knew he was back?
Am I missing something? 😐
And on Demba Ba there’s no direct quote or quote for that matter anywhere he is injured? We will soon see, either way if a striker had to be dropped, then bring in Ben Arfa, then rotate ba and besty anyway?
colwell
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Comment #3@LeeRyder
Demba Ba is fit and will be for the Spurs game and Yohan Cabaye trained today ahead of France`s game tonight. Both Fit.
stephen1971
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #4yip i totally agree with the 4-5-1 with hba behind best or ba and i,d also have jonas on the same wing as bale as he,s our best tracking back winger
Stuart
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #5Hope thats right like colwell!
JAMSHA
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Comment #6Krul
Simo-S.Tylor-Colo-Santo
Jonas-Toite-Cabaye-Mav
Arfa-Best
Jonas Can help Simo In Defence If Playd There
niffnoff
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Comment #7@Stuart
As far as I’ve read into Lee Ryder, he’s the only journo who is actually ITK, I don’t think he’s had much wrong tbf.
BiggMarketBoy
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Comment #8Good luck today Ed! Howay!
colwell
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Comment #9Lee Ryder is very rarely wrong with injuries etc so i`m pretty certain he`ll be right this time. Also apart from nufc.com no where has any info on Ba being injured?
Stuart
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Comment #10Dont think so like colwell, just nufc.com as far as I know. Theres definately been no direct quotes saying he’s injured.
Hopefully Ryder is bang on and hes not injured at all.
Also good luck for today Ed, hope it goes alright.
Scottiedog
Oct 11, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Comment #11If Jonas can almost sit on Bale then that is most of there Attack gone!! I would like to see Marveaux play i/o Obertan as well.
niffnoff
Oct 11, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Comment #12nufc.com is just another blog site. I’ve never actually found much reliable on there! haha
toonie
Oct 11, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Comment #13@colwell
Senegal FA were quoted.
Ba was not involved as Senegal completed their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Mauritius. He had already missed two training sessions with his national side, with the Senegal FA reporting that he had a “knee problem”.
niffnoff
Oct 11, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Comment #14@toonie
any link bud? Not saying I don’t believe but I’ve googled the buggery out of this.
toonie
Oct 11, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Comment #15@niffnoff
Here ya go: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/9297760.Magpies_sweating_over_Ba_injury_blow/
Incentino
Oct 11, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Comment #16I wish you the best of luck with the treatment, Ed!
dak76
Oct 11, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Comment #17My Team for Spuds…….
Krul
Raylor Taylor Collo Santon
Tiote
Oba Cabaye (Gosling if inj) Jonas
Ben Arfa
Ba (Best after 60)
subs: Harps / Simmo / Loven / Sammy / Marv / Ferguson / Best / Gurthrie (if cabaye inj)
2 wingbacks who can get forward and cross a ball, Tiote sitting in front sweeping up and a pacy midfield with Benny hanging off Ba…
Hoping for a win, will be a tight game which could go either way in all honesty, spuds are starting to click again… would take a 1-0 score line..