Pardew backs Ben Arfa to be a 'huge player' for Newcastle

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Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has singled out Hatem Ben Arfa as a player that can inspire the club to even greater Premier League success next season.

The Magpies mounted an unexpected challenge for Champions League football last season, eventually finishing above Chelsea in 5th place.

The Frenchman established himself as an important player on Tyneside and Pardew hopes he can stay fit and contribute positively again next season.

"He’s got massive quality and he’s going to be a huge player for us this year," Pardew told the BBC.

"We must make sure he stays fit and manage to get the maximum out of him."

The Newcastle manager was keen to stress, however, that Ben Arfa's place in the starting XI is not guaranteed.

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Pardew plans to utilise his entire squad in order to ensure the form and fitness of his star players is at its highest.

"[Ben Arfa] won't play every game, as [Fabricio] Coloccini won't, but the one's he plays he needs to be at full speed and win us games," he continued.

The Magpies boss is confident that his squad players can provide more than adequate cover, and might even put pressure on his more established performers for a spot in the first team.

"The likes of Jonas [Gutierrez] and Hatem have got real pressure from [Sylvain] Marveaux, Romain [Amalfitano] and Gabby [Obertan] for sure," he added.

"We've got a lot of games and I need to know when I put them in the team they are going to do the maximum job.”

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