Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The deal that took Hatem Ben Arfa to Hull City has no recall clause, which means that the France forward has kicked his last ball for Newcastle United.

The controversial switch to the KC Stadium has split the support base and led to more criticism of Alan Pardew, who sanctioned a double departure with no incomings on Monday’s deadline day.

The extent to which the relationship between player and manager broke down can now be revealed though, with Newcastle’s desire to offload the forward extending to the fact that they have not taking the precaution of inserting a recall. That means that even if Pardew departs – and he will be under pressure if results turn – there is no chance of Ben Arfa coming back to Tyneside.

Ben Arfa’s contract is up at the end of the season and having turned down a chance to extend it last summer, his career in the North East is now over.

The France forward has been in conflict with the Newcastle manager all summer and on Saturday one of his lawyers suggested that a complaint would be filed with the Football Association if he continued to be instructed to train with the reserves.

The Newcastle boss feels he is a disruptive presence and there have been suggestions that the dressing room dynamic will be improved by Ben Arfa’s departure. But he was also an immensely gifted player and Steve Bruce has spoken of his joy at managing to bring him to the KC Stadium.

It is understood that Ben Arfa ran the risk of exclusion from the match-day squad of 25 at Newcastle if he remained at the club, which is one of the reasons why he decided to leave on Monday evening.

He had the chance to go to Birmingham City in the Championship and Turkish club Besiktas, but he wanted to remain in the Premier League, which is why he decided to accept Hull’s offer.

Ben Arfa himself suggested that he felt he was joining something special in East Yorkshire. “Monday was a long day but I am very happy to be here,” he said.

“When I woke up on Monday morning, there was nothing on the cards. Then, in the afternoon the call came and everything happened very quickly after that. At 1am everything was complete and I was very happy.

“I’m very much looking forward to the start of a new challenge. The manager wants me here and that is very important. I’m looking forward to being back on the pitch after two months of only training.”

“The manager has made a lot of very good signings. There were many good players already here and then more have arrived this week. There is a very good squad here and I think the team can do something great for this city.”

Bruce has a history of getting the most out of maverick players and is quietly confident that he will be able to help the player fulfil his potential.

While there has been no word from St James’ Park since the deadline day - hardly a surprise given the club has restricted access this season - there have been no shortage of people coming forward from East Yorkshire to sing the player’s praises.

And Bruce says he can hardly believe that he landed the forward.

“I’ve been monitoring Ben Arfa for a couple of weeks and we quietly made it happen,” he said.

“I was thinking ‘nobody has gone in for him, let’s hope it stays that way’ and it played into our hands on Monday. I didn’t think it would be possible to do a loan deal, but the later it got the more beneficial it became. With a bit of patience and a bit of luck, we’ve managed to pull in a really good player.”

Tottenham and England right-back Kyle Walker has undergone lower abdominal surgery, his club have announced.

The 24-year-old has not played for Spurs since March, and no timescale was put on his recovery in a brief statement from the club last night.

“Kyle Walker has undergone lower abdominal surgery,” it read. “The England right-back’s pre-season preparations were disrupted by the abdominal injury and the decision to have surgery was taken following further medical assessment by specialists.”