Hatem Ben Arfa to miss rest of season

Newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa will miss the rest of the season as he requires hamstring surgery, his manager Alan Pardew has confirmed.

Ben Arfa missed three months of the season, but returned for last week's 0-0 draw away to Anzhi Makhachkala.

However, he aggravated the injury in that game and Pardew has now said that an operation is required.

"Hatem's not so good," Pardew said. "I think he's going to need an operation on his hamstring, and we'll miss him for the rest of the season.

"It is terrible news. Hatem gives us the X factor and will be a big miss."

Ben Arfa has made just 12 league appearances for Newcastle this season.