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The Newcastle countdown has begun: 42 days and counting…

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Scarcely in Newcastle United’s history has there been a player who has played less than a handful of games but has garnered as much excitement from the Toon Army as Hatem Ben Arfa. The 24-year-old Frenchman has played just four times in the Premier League for Newcastle, and it is now 11 months since he pulled on the black and white shirt for the Magpies in a competitive fixture at St James’ Park. Hopefully as Ben Arfa recovers from his latest setback it will be just 42 days until we get that privilege again.

As you all know, since breaking his leg against Manchester City, Hatem Ben Arfa suffered a setback in pre-season with a further injury to his ankle. However, he has been working hard to recover from that and now hopefully he can return sooner rather than later. PhysioRoom.com has Ben Arfa pencilled in to return against Wolves as Molineux on October 1st, almost exactly a year after he broke his leg. I would hazard a guess that date is if everything goes to plan, and with international week the following weekend, that would mean a return to St James’ Park for HBA against Tottenham on Sunday 16th October.

That date really can’t come soon enough, but touch wood, his latest attempt to return to fitness has gone smoothly thus far. He’ll be returning to Newcastle next week to get back into some sort of training, and his advisor Simon Stainrod is optimistic. This week he told the Evening Chronicle: “Hatem has always had the capacity to play sooner rather than later. He will be back as quick as the medical team around him deem sensible. I know he is optimistic about playing soon and is making good progress.”

The encouraging thing to hear is that the Newcastle fitness staff have been working intensively with Hatem. Stainrod continues: “He is running again now and he will take it from there. The aftercare he has received from the specialists in Paris and the Newcastle United medical team has been different class.” After the slight disappointment of the transfer window, it should give the whole Newcastle squad a boost to see Ben Arfa back around the place.

As well as giving the squad a boost, it will please the fans as well. With Newcastle’s attendance down to 42,000 against Fulham, one thing that would almost guarantee a full house at St James’ Park would be the return of Ben Arfa. There’s a good chance we may see Hatem Ben Arfa get some action before October 16th, but the 42 days until the Frenchman’s likely return to SJP can’t go quickly enough.

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