Newcastle winger Ben Arfa out for the season
Friday, March 15, 2013
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Newcastle United FC manager Alan Pardew said he would miss the "X factor" Hatem Ben Arfa brings to his side after a recurring hamstring injury cut short the France winger's season.
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Newcastle United FC will be without French international winger Hatem Ben Arfa for the rest of the season following the recurrence of an injury originally sustained in November.
Ben Arfa, 26, will undergo surgery on his hamstring after breaking down in last week's UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg against FC Anji Makhachkala, his first game of 2013. The former Olympique de Marseille man will therefore play no further part in Newcastle's domestic or European campaigns.
Magpies manager Alan Pardew said: "The news is not so good. He gives us that X factor. In a game like last night [the second leg against Anji], where he could just open the door for us, we haven't got that luxury." Thirteenth in England, Newcastle have been drawn against SL Benfica in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals after defeating Anji 1-0 on Thursday. They travel to Lisbon on 4 April for the first leg against the Portuguese Liga leaders.