Ben Arfa broke his tibia and fibula at Manchester City in October following a rash challenge by Nigel de Jong, and his agent claimed the winger would be ready for the fixture with Wolves on April 2.
However, the doctors claim they know more about the injury than his agent, and he WON'T be ready for Wolves.
The French international has spent most of his time rehabilitating in France and Tunisia.
Alan Pardew: “He has set himself a personal target, but he is still in the process of recovery.
“To break both bones in his shin is tough, not just physically but mentally. He’s got a long road back. Whether he comes back into the first team at the level where we are at the moment, we’ll have to see.
“Certainly next year he will be a big player for us.
“But his recovery will take us into April, maybe May."