Ben Arfa will be luck to play again this season.

It's unsurprising news, but at least we have some form of official news regarding the fitness of Hatem Ben Arfa, and it isn't good news either.

Alan Pardew has confirmed that us Newcastle fans will be lucky to see the talented French international back in action before the end of the season as he is nursed back to fitness from the horrific double leg break that Ben Arfa suffered against Manchester City earlier on in the season.

As I said, I'm not surprised at this news as I half expected that we would give Benny enough time to ensure that he is fully recovered before putting him back in the first team, and in a way it's great that our league position means that we have no real need to rush him back and risk any further injury.

“He has set himself a personal target, but he is still in the process of recovery,” Pardew told the Northern Echo. “To break both bones in his shin is tough, not just physically but mentally. He’s got a long road back. Whether he comes back into the first team at the level where we are at the moment, we’ll have to see.”

“Certainly next year he will be a big player for us,” explained Pardew. “But his recovery will take us into April, maybe May. I’d like to see him play this year but I am going to protect him. He needs to get some training under his belt and games.”

So there you go. I guess that mean we can effectively rule Ben Arfa out of making an impact this season, but at least there is stilla slim glimmer of hope that he will make return in the final week or two of the domestic season.

Hopefully this will allow Hatem to fully recover, get a full pre-season under his belt, and come back next season fighting fit from the start of the campaign.

It will be like having a new player again.