Toon’s Ben Arfa returns to training after injury

The 24-year-old returned to Tyneside on Monday night after doing the bulk of his rehabilitation in France, and was able to warm-up with the rest of the squad yesterday morning before going off to work by himself once again.

Ben Arfa said: “It is great to be back in Newcastle and back with the lads.

“I joined in with the warm-up and managed to do a bit of light training on my own, and it was good to see the rest of the players after such a long time.

“I will be continuing to follow my rehabilitation programme now I am back in Newcastle, and would like to thank the fans for their support while I have been out injured.”

The France international has been sidelined since fracturing both his tibia and fibula in a challenge with Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong on October 3 last year.

He had surgery to repair the initial damage, and then a second operation after an infection threatened to cost him his leg.

Stoke defender Danny Higginbotham faces up to six months on the sidelines after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Fixtures (7.45 unless stated)

UEFA Champions League Quarter-final First Leg: Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk, Chelsea v Man Utd.

FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON Semi-Final Second Leg: Sheff Utd v Aston Villa (7.00).

Clydesdale Bank Premier League: Celtic v Hibernian, Motherwell v Dundee Utd, St Mirren v Aberdeen.

Blue Square Bet North: Eastwood Town v Droylsden.

Evo-Stik Premier Division: Burscough v Stocksbridge PS, Mickleover Sports v Chasetown, Whitby v Buxton, Worksop v North Ferriby Utd.

Totesport.com Division One Central: Barnsley v Nottm Forest (7.00). Division One East: Hartlepool v Leeds (7.00).