ALAN Pardew has admitted the lingering effects of a hamstring injury mean Hatem Ben Arfa will not be in peak condition for the final two games of Newcastle United's season.

Ben Arfa was withdrawn after 65 minutes of a largely ineffectual performance at West Ham on Saturday as a goalless draw intensified Newcastle's relegation concerns.

The Frenchman damaged his hamstring in November's Europa League game with Maritimo and only made one Premier League appearance in the next five months before returning to action as a substitute in the Europa League quarter-final defeat to Benfica.

Instead of opting for an operation that would almost certainly have ended Ben Arfa's season, Newcastle's medical team oversaw an extended period of rehabilitation that has enabled the winger to return for the final throes of the campaign.

However, Pardew concedes his most potent play-maker is not in peak condition and accepts he will have to be handled carefully in the matches against QPR and Arsenal that will determine whether the Magpies cling on to their top-flight status.

“Hatem has been struggling,” said the Newcastle boss. “This hamstring, he has has a slight weakness in there and I don't even think it will be strong for six or seven weeks.

“In terms of that particular problem, we've actually got a great level of fitness out of him. He's a match winner and we missed him when we took him off (at West Ham). We've been bringing him on in the second half of games and we miss that little thrust when he's not there.

“I think another week will get him closer and that's important because goal scoring is what wins games and we've got to improve that area for next week.”

As if Pardew did not have enough problems to contend with ahead of Sunday's trip to Loftus Road, his attacking options could be further restricted by the absence of Moussa Sissoko and Shola Ameobi.

Sissoko missed Saturday's draw at West Ham with a knee injury, and while it is hoped he will be able to return to training before the end of the week, there are major doubts over his participation against QPR.

Ameobi also faces a race against time in the next five days after he damaged his knee and foot at the weekend. It has emerged the striker left Upton Park on crutches in an attempt to protect his leg, hardly a scenario that suggests he will be in peak condition on the training ground this week.

“Shola unfortunately hurt his knee with almost the first shot he had,” revealed Pardew. “We were actually carrying him for the rest of the game.

“It was unfortunate we couldn't really push for a goal after that, but hopefully Shola will be okay (to face QPR).”

Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson are both available for the final two matches after returning from their loan spells at Middlesbrough and Birmingham City respectively.

Meanwhile, Yohan Cabaye has added his voice to the chorus of Newcastle players rejecting suggestions of a split in the dressing room.

Cabaye was singled out for special criticism in a number of reports last week, despite Alan Pardew's insistence that the France international remains as committed to the cause as ever.

Cabaye is adamant there is no friction between Newcastle's French contingent and the rest of the squad, and insists each and every player is focused on avoiding relegation no matter what their nationality or background.

“In the dressing room, everything is okay,” said Cabaye. “The French players all want to adapt well. We're all focused together.

“I'm 100 per cent with everyone – I just want to save the club with my team-mates. I want to stay in the Premier League. We wanted to show we are together and we've stayed focused on being safe and playing in the Premier League next season. That's the most important thing.

“We know we're going to play well if we're focused together and stay together. We can't create cliques – we have to stay focused.”