Ben Arfa: Loving life on Tyneside

The midfielder - set to feature for France against England on Monday - hit top form for the Magpies last season after suffering a double fracture of his leg in October 2010.

Alan Pardew signed him permanently from Marseille, despite his injury setback, and the 25-year-old has hinted he wants to repay the manager's faith.

"I've never felt as settled at a club as I do at Newcastle. I feel like I'm somebody important there, it's a magnificent feeling," Ben Arfa told L'Equipe.

"I haven't forgotten the coach made me sign, even though I was only on loan from Marseille and I was injured.

"If I do not have a really, really serious proposal, I'll stay. If a big club comes, but does not propose something interesting - that is to say, the coach really wants me - I'll stay.

"If I do not feel the confidence of the [interested club's] coach 100 per cent, I will not leave. Newcastle is a big club, even if there are bigger. I still have a three-year contract."