Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew insists Hatem Ben Arfa remains part of his plans.
The ex-Marseille and Lyon bad boy last started a game in the 2-1 painful defeat against Sunderland.
Pardew said: "Hatem is a player we know can change a game."
The Toon chief says he considered putting him on the field against Chelsea when the game was deadlocked.
He said: "That game was made for Hatem, at 0-0, if we had not scored.
"However, we scored the (first) goal just as I thought about putting him on."
