NEWCASTLE UNITED boss Alan Pardew has revealed Hatem Ben Arfa will return to France during the summer to continue his rehabilitation from a double leg-break in the hope of being ready for the start of next season.

He has been sidelined since suffering a fractured fibia and tibula against Manchester City in October following a rash tackle from Nigel de Jong.

The French international, at St James’ Park yesterday for the club’s kit launch, has spent the majority of his rehabilitation back home and in Tunisia but returned to the club’s Benton training headquarters in April.

Pardew had hoped to have the midfielder-cum-striker back before the end of the season, and had pinpointed the Magpies’ last couple of games as possible return dates.

However, after resuming full training, the 24-year-old suffered a setback and Pardew, keen not to rush the player back from such a serious injury, admitted he would not return before the end of the season.

Now, Ben Arfa will return to France in a bid to work his way back to fitness.

Pardew said: “He’s going back to Clairefontain, looks like he’s got a busy summer ahead of him. We can only hope he’s going to come back the same player. Its a tough injury he had, we can only wait.”

The Magpies initially signed Ben Arfa on a season-long loan deal from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille before making his move permanent in a £5.5m deal in January.

Meanwhile, striker Shola Ameobi is on standby to be called into the Nigeria squad for next month’s double header against Argentina and Ethiopia.

Along with Wigan Athletic’s Victor Moses, Ameobi is hoping to get the call into the squad for a friendly  in Abuja and an African Nations Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa.

Ameobi was named in the Nigeria squad for the February friendly against Guatemala in the USA, but had to withdraw after fracturing his cheekbone in Newcastle’s defeat to Fulham. He has previously spoken of his readiness to switch allegiance to his fatherland, having represented England at Under-21 level.