Newcastle playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa could be back in action within a fortnight after manager Alan Pardew was handed some rare welcome injury news.
The France international limped out of Thursday night's 1-1 Europa League draw with Maritimo with a damaged hamstring, and although the club's medics were confident there was no tear, Pardew was left facing up to the absence of perhaps his most creative player. However he is expected to be back in harness sooner rather than later.
Pardew said: "It's not as bad as we feared, so I think a couple of weeks, but no more than that, hopefully."
Ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to Southampton and next Wednesday's visit to Stoke, there is better news of striker Papiss Cisse, who made way after taking a kick on the thigh against Maritimo.
His condition had improved significantly on Friday morning and he has a chance of making the trip to the St Mary's Stadium, as do Jonas Gutierrez following a knee problem and utility man James Perch, who trained on Friday after shaking off a thigh injury.
However, with Shola Ameobi out with a groin strain, Pardew has also drafted forgotten man Nile Ranger into the squad.
Ranger, whose career on Tyneside has been blighted by off-field problems, has been included after impressing and scoring in a 2-2 Under-21s derby draw with Sunderland last week.
Pardew said: "Let's just say he's knuckled down. I still think he owes us and I said that to him this morning, so I'm not saying anything that I haven't said to him personally.
"I think he owes us and now is the time to be humble, come in and play football and concentrate on football."
Source: PA
