Source: Telegraph
Hatem Ben Arfa's injury is 'devastating', says Newcastle's Chris Hughton
St James' Park officials have confirmed that Ben Arfa underwent surgery on the double break to his left leg that he sustained in a challenge by Manchester City's Nigel De Jong on Sunday but it is too early to know when he will be playing again for Newcastle. [LNB]A club statement said that Ben Arfa was 'expected to make a full recovery after the successful operation' although Newcastle cannot confirm at this stage how long his recovery will take. [LNB]It has been suggested that Ben Arfa, who joined Newcastle on a season-long loan from Marseilles during the summer transfer window, will be out of action for six months - which would represent a serious set-back to Hughton as he attempts to consolidate Newcastle's position in the Premier League. [LNB]Ben Arfa was stretchered off in the early stages of a 2-1 defeat at City following a tackle by De Jong, who has been dropped from the Dutch squad following the incident. De Jong will not face disciplinary action because referee Martin Atkinson, who did not signal a foul, saw the challenge first-hand. Under Fifa regulations the FA cannot act retrospectively when an incident has been seen by the referee. [LNB]'I am absolutely devastated for Hatem,' Hughton said. 'To get injured at any time is bad enough, but to suffer such a horrendous injury as a double leg break is sickening for the lad. [LNB]'After playing only a handful of games for us, scoring a cracking goal at Everton and doing fantastically well, it's a cruel and devastating blow for Hatem, and for the club as a whole. [LNB]'All the lads are devastated for him as well. I know many of them have already been in touch with him to check he's doing okay, and that's great.'[LNB]Hughton continued: 'On the plus side I am delighted to hear from the hospital that the operation this morning was successful and now it's just a case of nursing him back to fitness. [LNB]'Hatem's a smashing lad with great character and bags of determination, and with the help of our medical team and backroom staff, I am sure he will make a full and speedy recovery. [LNB]'I'll be visiting Hatem later today. 'Get well soon' is the message from everyone at the club.'[LNB]For his part, Ben Arfa, 23, has promised to return to frontline duties for Newcastle and will undergo his rehabilitation on Tyneside. [LNB]'I'll be back,' he said. 'I will be working hard to play again in a black-and-white shirt and to perform again for the brilliant Newcastle fans. It will be a long road back, but I have to stay positive.'[LNB]His advisor, the former Queens Park Rangers striker Simon Stainrod, added: 'Hatem is in bits over the injury, but he will look to get his operation out of the way and then it's the road back to recovery. [LNB]'He will be doing all of his rehab at Newcastle and hopes to be back as quickly as possible. That's the sort of lad he is. It just shows his character when he sits up and claps the fans as he goes off. It shows the feeling he has for the Newcastle fans, and I don't think that many players would have done that in that situation. [LNB]'He was enjoying everything at Newcastle. He felt under pressure at Marseille, but he certainly felt comfortable here. He'll do everything in accordance with Newcastle and he'll be back.'[LNB]
