Hatem Ben Arfa was delighted to be back in action for Newcastle United last night.
The French winger has been sidelined since October 2010 with a fractured leg and then complications arising from the initial problem but managed 70 minutes in the 4-3 Carling Cup win at Nottingham Forest.
After tasting his first piece of action in about a year, Ben Arfa says he is ready to give his all for Newcastle who have stuck by him during his absence.
"All the year I worked so hard to come back and I'm very happy to be on the pitch now," he told the Evening Chronicle.
"It was very hard for me and I'm very happy to be back. I hope we do very good things this season.
"I'm very happy to see the supporters again and I thank them for all the encouragement last year.
"It was hard for me, but they sent me messages and I want to thank them.
"I feel very good. I have confidence and I feel I will do very good things now. I'm ready to play now. I hope we continue like this."
