LAST week he hinted at a future role out wide, but Alan Pardew believes he can teach Hatem Ben Arfa to be his perfect 10.

THEY call it the “free” role, but Alan Pardew has warned Hatem Ben Arfa there is a price to be paid if he wants to be Newcastle United’s creative heartbeat.

For players of the Frenchman’s ilk, there seems to be a constant debate about how to get the best from them.

English managers in particular are reluctant to use flair players in the “hole” behind a striker (or two), fearing they might become passengers or their tricks could cause possession to be surrendered in dangerous areas.

So when Ben Arfa first played for Newcastle he was stationed on the left. He played just four times before a double leg break.

The debate seemed to have been resolved before it could get going again by Pardew this season.

Ben Arfa was handed the No.10 shirt – traditionally that of a second striker – and told that was where he would play.

In September Pardew (pictured below) told the media he did not think the France international could operate anywhere else.

Then Ben Arfa messed everything up.

He did so by playing brilliantly on the right after being moved there for the last 34 minutes against Blackburn Rovers, scoring an outstanding individual goal in a 2-1 FA Cup win.

Days later Sammy Ameobi was ruled out for the season through injury.

With Sylvain Marveaux already missing, it leaves Jonás Gutiérrez and a half-fit Gabriel Obertan as the last wide men standing at St James’ Park ahead of tomorrow’s visit from Queens Park Rangers.

If it suggested Ben Arfa could have a part to play on the right, Pardew has not given up on the 24-year-old as a central figure – but he is demanding improvements.

He said: “He has to understand this football club.

“I am going to require more energy in that role from him. When he went on the (right-hand) side for a short period of time, he did brilliantly That goal was sensational.

“All great players need confidence. Goals like that will gel him, not just in his mind, but in the minds of the other players as well.

“You want your team-mates to believe in you and that will give him belief with his team-mates too.”

With a team based on defensive discipline, Pardew is in no mood to carry passengers. His perfect ten must get his hands dirty.

He added: “The No 10 role is not a problem for Ben Arfa but in terms of defending as a team it is a quite difficult job if you have not been expected to do that and I don’t think he has, to be honest.

“Shola (Ameobi), Besty (Leon Best), Peter Løvenkrands, it is ingrained in those guys to do that.

“Some games he has done very well there.

“He has done exactly what I wanted. This is a process we are going through.”