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.

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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."

English trio are kept apart

The three Premier League clubs have been kept apart in the Europa League quarter-final draw.

Chelsea will take on Russian side Rubin Kazan, Tottenham tackle Swiss outfit Basel and Newcastle will face Portugal's Benfica.

Rubin Kazan are currently sixth in the Russian Premier League and required extra-time on Thursday to defeat Spain's Levante 2-0 on aggregate in the last 16.

However they are likely to prove tough opponents for Chelsea after knocking out holders Atletico Madrid in the last 32 and emerging unbeaten from a tough group that included Inter Milan.

Rubin's game against Levante was played at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium - due to problems with their own pitch in the republic of Tatarstan - and they could also face the Blues at a venue where they lost the 2008 UEFA Champions League final to Manchester United.

Swiss champions Basel defeated Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 on aggregate to reach the last eight after hanging on to lose the second leg only 1-0 after the Russians missed a late penalty.

Basel failed to reach the Champions League group stage this season after losing to CFR Cluj in the play-off round.

Benfica, who are currently two points clear in the Primeira Liga, dropped into the Europa League after finishing third behind Barcelona and Celtic in Champions League Group G.

They beat Bordeaux 4-2 on aggregate in the last 16 after scoring two late goals to win the second leg 3-2.

"It's a great draw for us," said Newcastle manager Alan Pardew. "The Estadio da Luz is a great venue. I've been there and it's a fantastic stadium. Importantly, we are at home in the second leg and that will give us an advantage."

Benfica director Rui Costa said: "Newcastle deserve all our respect but we trust in ourselves. We will give it our best to go through."



Europa League draw:

Chelsea v Rubin Kazan

Tottenham v Basel

Fenerbahce v Lazio

Benfica v Newcastle



First-leg ties to be played on April 4, second-leg ties to be played on April 11.