Newcastle United manager says Hatem Ben Arfa is in good spirits
Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton has revealed that winger Hatem Ben Arfa is in good spirits following his horrible double leg break.
The France international was crocked after a heavy challenge by Manchester City defensive midfielder Nigel De Jong when the sides met in the English Premier League. De Jong went unpunished for his actions, with the match referee failing to show a red or
even yellow card.
The injury has left the on-loan Olympique Marseille man looking at a spell of several months on the sidelines.
But Hughton told Sky Sports News that while Ben Arfa was not looking forward to such a long period of time out of action, the 23-year-old is working hard to be back playing sooner than his prognosis had indicated.
"He's in good spirits. It's obviously a very difficult time for him. He's a young man that's going through an injury, and a length of injury that he hasn't had before. But he's in good spirits and all his thoughts are on his rehabilitation and getting back
as fit as he can as quick as he can."
The Newcastle manager also weighed in over the reported increase in the number of tough tackles in the EPL that have left players nursing injuries.
"It's [the rise in the number of bad challenges] a combination of a few things. The amount of cameras now at the stadium mean that very rarely are they missed; the pitches are lusher and clear now; the game has got quicker, but yes, they are highlighted
more now than before. If anybody says to me there are more bad challenges now than before, then I certainly don't see it that way. It's been highlighted very much in recent weeks because of the severity of some of the injuries, and that's always going to be
the case.”
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