Alan Pardew confirmed to the Sunday Sun: “We’ve had some positive news about Hatem and that is that we’ve had a second consultation and it’s come back the same as the first.
“The break is fine and it’s a ligament problem. We expect him back at the training ground – fingers crossed – by September 10. And that’s with some preparational work in terms of his fitness.
“So he should come back to training that day.
“He’ll come and watch the Fulham game but now he’s working towards that point. The realistic aim is three weeks from when he returns on September 10.
“I’ve been here seven or eight months and I haven’t seen him play a competitive game yet.
“Of course I’ve seen him in friendlies but they’re not the same.
“So it’s been difficult for me and Hatem – I’m trying to form a relationship with him because he’s a player who needs to form a relationship with a manager to get the best out of him.
“Obviously a lot of the time he’s at Clairefontaine and we’re trying to do a recovery where he’s more contained and we’re doing more work so it’s difficult.
“We will be starting afresh when he comes back.”