Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew admits Hatem Ben Arfa is on the outer.
The mercurial Frenchman will be on the bench for today's home game against Crystal Palace having recovered from the latest injury which has blighted his season.
"I've not lost patience with him but Hatem has to gain the trust of not just me but of our players and fans," said Pardew.
"He has to show he's the real deal if he's going to play."
Pardew is adamant no final decision has been made on his future.
"I've been accused of that in the past but I've never lost patience with any player," he said.
"I could go back through my managerial career and choose many players who I was never going to play again and yet I selected them.
"At the moment, Ben Arfa has Sissoko and Gouffran in front of him and then there is Luuk de Jong, who in my opinion has done well and Papiss Cisse who is a natural goalscorer, who we all know needs a goal."
