Ben Arfa: I am 100 percent fit

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa says he is "100 percent fit" ahead of Saturday's crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool.



Alan Pardew's side have won just one of their last five league fixtures and, as a result, have slipped to 16th in the table, just six points above the relegation zone.



They still have breathing space ahead of 18th-placed Wigan and a home win against Liverpool should secure their top-flight status for another season.



Newcastle's hopes will be boosted by Ben Arfa's availability, with the creative Frenchman – who has made three substitute appearances in the past fortnight – set to make his first league start in 2013 after being dogged with a hamstring injury.



"My hamstring is completely fine now and I feel happy that the injury has gone and I can return to full fitness. I am 100 percent fit," Ben Arfa told Newcastle's official match programme.



"I'm happy that I have come back into the team slowly and gradually. The manager and the doctor have put in place a programme to ensure I return gradually rather than rush back and get further problems in the future.



"I am happy with the work of the backroom staff and the manager because this was my first muscular injury and it was important that the healing ran its course."

Ben Arfa fully committed to Newcastle

Hatem Ben Arfa has targeted a return to Europe with Newcastle after reaffirming his commitment to the club.

style="border-radius: 25px 25px 25px 25px; border: 5px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" />

The France winger's surprise return from a hamstring injury was not enough to prevent Newcastle slipping out the Europa League to Benfica on Thursday.



Alan Pardew's side will not be back in the competition next season, and there have been suggestions Ben Arfa may be used as a makeweight in a summer deal to bring Andy Carroll back to Tyneside from Liverpool.



But Ben Arfa has consistently said he is happy at Newcastle, and he told the Evening Chronicle: "I want to stay here.



"It is only journalists who talk about that. Me and my agent have not talked about that. I am focused on Newcastle and 100% Newcastle. I hope to stay here.



"We have a great team. I'd love to play for this team in Europe again. We won't next season but after that we can maybe go again.



"Everything is here. It is a great club. We have a great squad, big ground and great fans."

Ben Arfa set for return

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa could make a surprise comeback in the Tyne-Wear derby.

It was thought the 26-year-old would miss the remainder of the season in order to undergo an operation on a persistent hamstring problem.

But specialists have told the club that the Frenchman does not need surgery.

Ben Arfa was put through his paces on the pitch at St James' Park before Sunday's 1-0 win over Fulham and United manager Alan Pardew has revealed he has a chance of being involved in Sunday's match at St James' Park.

"What's happened with Hatem is that the scan has shown that we've got some scar tissue still in the hamstring," Pardew told the Hartlepool Mail. "He's showing no ill-effects.

"We've sent him to three experts, mainly a French expert, who's been looking after him. He thinks that he's 100%.

"We're now treating him as that. He's running. There could be a cameo as soon as Sunderland. He's got a week's work. If he gets through that work, then he could be involved."

Ben Arfa was in superb form at the start of the season and Pardew is keen to have the player back.

However, having seen Ben Arfa make two abortive comebacks from the injury, suffered in a Europa League group game against Maritimo, the manager is erring on the side of caution.



"It'd be a massive bonus for us, but it's still too early to call," added Pardew. "After the last time, we said he wouldn't play again this seaons. Half of me thought he might.

"I just wanted to clear his mind and see how he reacted. Hopefully, we'll get a nice bonus."

Ben Arfa season's over

Newcastle United midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa could be ruled out for the rest of the season if he has to undergo surgery on his hamstring.



The France winger only returned from a three-month absence through injury in last week's Europa League last-16 first leg at Anzhi Makhachkala, having been out since suffering the injury in the 2-1 defeat Fulham back in early December.



However, he has not played in either of the two games since that 0-0 draw, and has been told an operation may be the only solution.



Manager Alan Pardew said: "Looking at him, I think he's going to need an operation on his hamstring, and it will probably leave him missing for the rest of the year, I think. We have had to absorb that in all the good news that we have had."



Another enforced lay-off would represent another setback for Ben Arfa, who missed all but four games of his first season at the club with a double leg fracture, and Pardew said it now appears that the 26-year-old will have to write off another campaign and focus on a summer return.



"That's the priority for him now because he's been a huge miss for us," Pardew said. "He gives us that X-factor. In a game like last night's where he could open the door for us, we haven't got that luxury.



"Unfortunately for Hatem, that's the news that he didn't want to hear. But as far as we are concerned, the team has responded well in his absence and hopefully, we do that until the end of the year."



There was a fitness boost for Pardew, however, as midfielder Yohan Cabaye could recover from his groin injury in time for Sunday's Premier League trip to Wigan.