Newcastle United hit by fresh Hatem Ben Arfa injury
Last updated on .From the section Football
Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa is out of the Magpies' tour of the United States with an ankle injury.
The 24-year-old was stretchered off the field during the 0-0 draw with Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday.
A club statement said: "[Ben Arfa] will be leaving the club's US tour tomorrow and the injury will be reassessed over the next 48 hours."
The France international missed all but four games last season with a double leg fracture.
The news is a blow to United manager Alan Pardew, who began the trip on Sunday without midfielders Joey Barton and Yohan Cabaya and striker Nile Ranger after the trio were refused visas.
Ben Arfa will hope the injury is not serious having only just returned to action after recovering from the broken leg he suffered at Manchester City last October.
He had made just a handful of appearances for Newcastle since joining on a season-long loan deal from Marseille when a challenge by City's Nigel De Jong left him on the sidelines.
Despite the injury, the Magpies made the move permanent in January and he made his return to action in last Sunday's 2-0 victory over Darlington.
Pardew had hoped the Frenchman could play as an auxiliary striker should the club's hunt for a frontman during the transfer window prove unsuccessful and now faces anxious wait.
Newcastle face Orlando City on Saturday before taking on Columbus Crew three days later in the final fixture of the three-match tour.
