Varadi

Mapou loves Taylor too: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/303929/?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/newcastle-write-off-injured-hatem-ben-arfa-for-rest-of-season-8537070.html Sounds like the decision is being made by our medical team in discussions with the French lot too - in hindsight might have been better to do the operation back in December, but then I've no idea if that has other associated risks so I'm basically just guessing like everyone else!

Just been having a look at their squad list - some decent players there.

There's direct flights from London or Manchester. Easyjet from Luton might be one of the better bets.

That much bitter irony actually must be painful to carry around. Seems heavy Love that he's already covering all bases just in case we do actually go and win it with the "trophy no real football fans care about" bullshit

Would be happy enough with a draw here I think - keeps us ticking over and them well behind us.

Agree - we looked much more controlled once he came on.

Immense. Absolutely immense.

Well said that man!

If I followed that I would be out of action before half time. The Shola of drinking. So you down 20 pints when we play the mackems??

Just get yourself along man, nobody is alone in the ranks of the toon army. Aye, the match is one place you can always go on your own with no worries - go for it!

I've stopped looking forward to him getting back tbh because it's so frustrating. Have the mentality now that any pitch time we see from him for the rest of the season will be a bonus. One tiny silver lining - the constant injury niggles might be enough to dissuade one of the ridiculous billionaires from coming in with a daft bid.

We're out at 25/1 now with the bookies - the mackems are as low as 6/1... http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/relegation

Aye - this is always the first thread I head for when I see his name as last poster

The current form table makes grim reading for these lot: http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2012-2013/form-table/full Good to see us in CL form!

No Shola on the bench either.

Players often get minor setbacks after being out for so long - hopefully its just a precaution and he'll be fine for Thursday.

Mail now claiming that HBA is out: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2291059/Hatem-ben-Arfa-injury-Premier-League-Newcastle-Stoke.html

Time to shut up shop - get everyone behind the ball, quick.

I hate stats like that.

Aye, not even Hughton would do that. Oh, wait. Ah man, that Perch own goal...

When they went behind MON's attacking subs to get back into it were Vaughan and Bardsley

Looks like it, yes: http://liveonsat.com/2day.php?start_dd=14&start_mm=03&start_yyyy=2013&end_dd=14&end_mm=03&end_yyyy=2013

Hatem Ben Arfa returned from Russia with more than an hour of his first game for two months, but with a dead leg which leaves him doubtful for Stoke City’s visit to St James’s Park. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2290390/Hatem-Ben-Arfa-miss-match-Stoke.html#ixzz2MzIKiIG9 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook