Ben Arfa Could Be Out Till May

Hatem Ben Arfa's loan move from Marseille to Newcastle was made permanent in January.

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has revealed Hatem Ben Arfa faces a battle to return to 1st team action before May as he bids to recover from his double leg break. Ben Arfa, whose loan from Marseille was made permanent in January, has not featured for The Magpies since sustaining the injury in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in October.