Ben Arfa playing through pain - Alan Pardew

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that winger Hatem Ben Arfa is playing through pain to strengthen the club’s survival bid.

Ben Arfa has managed to make just 20 appearances for the Magpies owing to various hamstring injuries this season. The Frenchman however started last weekend’s game against West Ham. And Pardew said:

“Ben Arfa has been struggling. This hamstring has a slight weakness in there and it won’t even be strong I don’t think for six, seven weeks.

“We got a great level of fitness out of him in terms of that particular problem. He was terrific at West Ham, and he’s a match winner. We’ve been bringing him on in the second half but started him at the weekend and we missed him when we took him off. We missed that little thrust.

“I think for Hatem another week’s work will get him closer. Goal scoring is what wins games, we’ve got to improve that area for next week, including with Hatem.”

Ben Arfa recently landed in trouble after a British tabloid reported that the player was seen training in a PSG kit. However, Newcastle have released an official statement on their website citing that the reports were untrue. The statement read:

“Newcastle United are hugely disappointed by the article that appeared on Wednesday, 1st May, concerning Hatem Ben Arfa, on the basis that their assertion was totally without foundation and completely untrue.”

The player himself said that the reports were untrue. Ben Arfa said:

“I was shocked when my attention was drawn to the article on Wednesday morning. It is totally inaccurate, misleading and has caused me great personal upset and frustration.”