Ben Arfa blow for Newcastle

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is contemplating having to do without star man Hatem Ben Arfa for the Christmas programme.

The 25-year-old France international missed Saturday's 3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Manchester City after aggravating a hamstring injury and Pardew has admitted his absence is likely to be extended.

He said: "Hatem looks like he is going to miss the next two or three with the injury he has got. We can't risk him."

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