http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/09/02/hatem-ben-arfa-due-back-with-newcastle-72703-29349484/Hatem Ben Arfa due back with Newcastle
HATEM Ben Arfa is due back on Tyneside this weekend.
Newcastle United?s playmaker has been in Paris since damaging his ankle but has been making regular visits to London to link up with the United medical team via Eurostar.
The ex-Marseille ace is again running on the ankle he injured during Newcastle?s tour of the United States earlier this summer.
The French international is also ?optimistic? he will be back sooner rather than later.
Sensibly, though, the Magpies have decided not to put an official comeback date on his return.
Yet that does not mean the skilful 24-year-old is holding back from the ankle problem he sustained in Kansas City in July.
The player?s advisor Simon Stainrod told the Chronicle from his Cannes base: ?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.
?He had the horrific experience of his broken leg last season but he is made of sterner stuff.?
One date for Ben Arfa?s comeback date that had been mooted was the trip to Wolves on October 1.
However, Stainrod said: ?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.?
Stainrod also revealed Ben Arfa had been flying until he hit trouble in Kansas.
Former Strasbourg star Stainrod added: ?He had been coming out in running tests with top results.
?He will be looking to get involved as soon as possible after Newcastle?s good start.
?Knowing Yohan Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux he will be looking forward to playing with them.
?Once they get into their stride Newcastle could be playing 90mph stuff.
?They are not afraid to take risks with their passing and they will want to link up together.?
