Newcastle United have confirmed that loanee Hatem Ben Arfa sustained a broken left leg early on in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.
The France international winger was felled by a challenge from City’s Nigel de Jong and now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
A short statement from the Magpies read: “X-rays taken have confirmed that he has suffered a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg. He will undergo surgery on Monday morning.
“Everyone connected with the club sends Hatem their best wishes for a speedy recovery. At this stage no time limit has been put on his expected return date.”
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Netherlands head coach Bert van Marwijk has dropped de Jong from his squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers, following the midfielder’s leg-breaking weekend tackle on Ben Arfa.
De Jong has come in for criticism for the challenge which broke both bones in Newcastle United loanee Ben Arfa’s lower left leg, having previously been under fire for a reckless tackle on Spain’s Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final.
Van Marwijk told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad: “I’ve seen the pictures back. It was a wild and unnecessary offence. He went in much too hard.”
Hibernian have parted company with manager John Hughes following a disappointing start to the new SPL season.
Hibs have won just once in their opening seven league games and are currently down in tenth place in the standings, a point above rock-bottom St Mirren.
Hughes took charge at Easter Road in the summer of 2009, after making his name during a six-year stint at the helm of Falkirk.
Former team-mate Eddie Irvine has branded Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One ‘a disaster’.
The Northern Irishman was Schumacher’s Ferrari team-mate during his dominance of the late 1990s.
The German came out of retirement to race for Mercedes this season, but Irvine has questioned his decision to return to the grid after a three-year absence.
“On paper, his return wasn’t a bad idea,” Irvine told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“But he had already lost something in 2006, when Felipe Massa was often in front of him. Three years later he has lost even more. The result, it’s a disaster.”
Home favourite Sebastien Loeb wrapped up an amazing seventh consecutive World Rally Championship title with victory at the Rally of France.
Loeb was rarely threatened on his favourite tarmac surface as he ensured yet another crown, with two races of the 2010 season still to go.
