Ben Arfa in line for Newcastle return

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa could be in line for his first Barclays Premier League appearance since October 3 last year as Blackburn arrive on Tyneside tomorrow.

The France international played 70 minutes of Tuesday night’s 4-3 Carling Cup win at Nottingham Forest, his first competitive action since breaking his leg in two places, and although manager Alan Pardew does not want to rush him back, he may figure at some point against Rovers.

Striker Shola Ameobi is a doubt with a shoulder problem, while Davide Santon has returned to training after having fluid drained from his knee but will miss out, as will Alan Smith (hamstring), Haris Vuckic (broken hand) and Mike Williamson (broken arm).

Provisional squad: Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, R. Taylor, Ferguson, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Marveaux, Obertan, Gosling, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Abeid, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Best, Sammy Ameobi.