Injury to Ben Arfa sours Newcastle's progress One step forward, two steps back. For Newcastle United last night there was progress into the knockout stages of the Europa League, but it came at a damaging cost. Hatem ben Arfa, so integral to Alan Pardew's side, limped off in the 38th minute with a hamstring injury. The extent of the problem will be determined after a scan today but there is the real prospect that the France international will join his compatriot Yohan Cabaye on the sidelines for two to three weeks. That, during a period in the Premier League where, by Pardew's own admission, Newcastle need their big players on top of their game, not sidelined. Last night was the first time Ben Arfa had started a game in Europe's second competition. It did nothing to dispel the feeling that things are not going for Pardew and his side at the moment. To further complicate a trip to Pardew's former club Southampton on Sunday, when his captain, Fabricio Coloccini, will serve the final game of his three-game suspension, Papiss Cissé followed Ben Arfa's lead, limping off himself five minutes into the second half with what looked like an injury to his right leg. They were sobering injuries on a night that should have brought relief, ending a run of successive Premier League home defeats against West Ham United and then Swansea City. Ben Arfa was, by some distance, Newcastle's most sparkling player, prompting from a more central role that suits his creative style. From him, came the opening goal after 23 minutes, finding Sylvain Marveaux with a clever, dinked pass to his right. Marveaux took the pass in his stride and with his first touch created the chance to fire a left-footed shot past the Maritimo goalkeeper, Romain Salin. It was a fine goal. It was also Marveaux's first, 16 months after he arrived from Rennes, when a transfer to Liverpool had broken down at the last minute. For Cissé, this was another night of frustration, limping off after seeing a 37th-minute strike past Salin ruled out for a marginal offside. The decision was correct, but it is still not rolling for the Senegalese forward, who could not put a foot wrong when he first arrived in England, back in January. Ben Arfa suffered his injury in the creation of the disallowed goal, partly in avoiding a heavy tackle from David Simao. Newcastle struggled for fluency in his absence. Indeed, it was only from a deflected Sammy Ameobi that Salin was called on to make a rare save, stopping the ball as it looped it towards goal. Maritimo, who went out of the competition last night because of the result, had their chances. Joao Luiz shot powerfully from 25 yards. Tim Krul was equal to it, as Newcastle have been to anything the Europa League has put in front of them. There will, however, still be a headache for Pardew this morning. He had another 11 minutes from time when Fidelis, the Maritimo substitute, went past Steven Taylor and shot through Krul's legs. It means Newcastle will be second in Group D when they head to Bordeaux next month, but they will be through, none the less. Man of match Coloccini. Referee D Makkelie (Neth). Attendance 21,632.