Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is standing by Hatem Ben Arfa.
Toon face Liverpool later today.
Pardew said: "It's always difficult to leave out players you like. I love Hatem. I want him to play as well and as consistently as he possibly can.
"But sometimes you do need to say players, 'Come out, have a look at it, see what you did well and what you didn't do so well, and analyse yourself'. I think he's done that.
"He's trained really well in the last ten days and really taken what we've said to him on board. I'd like to think that when he goes back in the team next time, whenever that is, he'll really be at his best. I hope so.
"I think there's a little bit of special attention being paid to him, but great players can find a way round that. For Hatem, it's sometimes about the response.
"That's sometimes more important than anything else, and his response so far has been really good. As a manager, I know that is usually reflected in performances.
"Whenever you leave players out, it's something you have to think long and hard about because they're big decisions and, at big clubs like this, they have a big impact.
"For them as individuals as well. You have to take all of that into account, but at the end of the day, we have to make big calls. That's what the Premier League is about."
