Ben Arfa has come off the bench in Newcastle’s last three games.
And United manager Alan Pardew – whose side take on Liverpool at home on Saturday – feels he’s close to being fit enough to start a game.
“Every day he’s getting closer,” said Pardew, whose players trained at St James’s Park today.
“He’s worked a lot better this week. We’re hoping he might make more of an impact whether he starts or comes off the bench.”