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Olivier Bernard admits he is mystified by Newcastle United’s reluctance to play Sylvain Marveaux and Hatem Ben Arfa.

The duo found themselves dropped by Alan Pardew after the Toon boss deemed their attitudes weren’t deemed good enough behind the scenes.

The pair could well be moved on this summer if Newcastle get the right price for two players who spent most of the season on the sidelines.

Bernard told the Chronicle: “They are two players who can provide Newcastle with the one thing they lacked last season - a killer pass into the box.

“On their day they are top-notch Premier League players.

“But they have not been given a chance.

“Marveaux is a fine winger and Hatem Ben Arfa will win you games if he plays week in, week out.

“It’s such a waste of talent.”

Bernard knows how the United faithful love to see an Entertainer in Toon and feels that Ben Arfa is the man to deliver what they want.

He said: “You had David Ginola at Newcastle and then during my time, we had Laurent Robert and the crowd love to see players like that.

“You need to have Ben Arfa on the pitch.

“You can’t leave talent like that on the sidelines.

“I know Hatem well and he can kill teams when he’s flying and playing every week.

“In the games against teams like Arsenal he can win them for you.”

But Pardew has been unable to get the best out of the former Marseille magician for almost two years now.

Bernard feels he has the answer. He said: “He needs to be loved.

“Every team he’s had problems but the manager who sees quality in him will succeed.

“He’s not a player for the bench. That’s just a waste of serious talent.

“He can be Newcastle’s inspiration. Look at him when he is one on one with defenders.

“If he plays week in, week out he will galvanise the other players and the supporters.”

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