Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has revealed that Hatem Ben Arfa is playing through the pain barrier in a bid to aid the club's survival bid. "Ben Arfa has been struggling. This hamstring has a slight weakness in there and it won't even be strong I don't think for six, seven weeks," noted Pardew.

"We got a great level of fitness out of him in terms of that particular problem. He was terrific at West Ham, and he's a match winner.

"We've been bringing him on in the second half but started him at the weekend and we missed him when we took him off. We missed that little thrust.

"I think for Hatem another week's work will get him closer. Goal scoring is what wins games, we've got to improve that area for next week, including with Hatem."