NEWCASTLE United's festive plans have been dealt a major blow after Hatem Ben Arfa was ruled out until the start of the new year with a hamstring injury.

Ben Arfa injured his hamstring in last week's 2-1 defeat at Fulham and scans have revealed a significant degree of damage.

There is a danger the Frenchman could tear his hamstring completely, a scenario that could sideline him for up to three months, so in order to limit the risk of a more serious problem, he will play no part in the hectic Christmas schedule.

Ben Arfa will miss this weekend's home game with QPR, the Boxing Day trip to Manchester United and the visit to Arsenal a week on Saturday, and is not expected to be involved in the first game of 2013 against Everton on January 2.

He could return for the FA Cup third-round tie with Brighton, but his absence in the intervening period represents a major blow to a Newcastle side that will also be deprived of the services of Yohan Cabaye in the same period.

“He is out for next week and probably the whole Christmas period,” admitted Alan Pardew, who watched his side slip to 15th position in the wake of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City. “Initially, it was touch and go about how serious it was, but where there is a danger is that he could tear it and if he did that, he would be out for two or three months.

“If we do it the right way and be sensible about it, it may only be three weeks. So obviously that is the route it looks like we are going to take.”

Newcastle's defeat to Manchester City was their eighth of the season, and while aspects of their performance put the reigning champions under pressure, the final result extended a poor recent run that has plunged Pardew's side into trouble at the wrong end of the table.

They have now lost six of their last seven Premier League matches and find themselves just two points clear of Wigan Athletic in the final relegation place.

With trips to Old Trafford and the Emirates looming, next weekend's home game with 19th-placed QPR has assumed increased importance, and while Harry Redknapp's side claimed their first victory of the season at the weekend, it is surely imperative that Newcastle secure all three points on Saturday.

“There were a lot of positives for us, but unfortunately it was zero points and that's putting us under pressure going into QPR, which we know here is a big game now,” said Pardew. “I don't really know how you could put it on a scale.

“The players are going to be edgy because of the position we are in. But having said that, I still think we have very good players in this group still to come back.

“I sense that the period between now and the end of January is the period for us to make sure we keep out of that bottom area, keep roughly where we are or a little bit higher and we will be okay.”

It will be interesting to gauge the prevailing mood at St James' Park this weekend, particularly if Newcastle concede an early goal or struggle to break down a QPR side who have tightened up considerably since Redknapp replaced Mark Hughes.

This month's match with Wigan was also billed as a 'must-win game', but any anxiety was removed by the early dismissal of Maynor Figueroa.

On Saturday, the St James' Park crowd remained completely supportive, although that was to be expected given that the Magpies started as underdogs against the Premier League champions. They will be expected to succeed with something to spare against QPR, a situation that creates its own pressures.

“You didn't need to be a genius to work out that the fans would be patient with us playing the champions,” said Pardew. “But we're going to need that same patience against QPR. It's going to be very important we get the right mood in the stadium for that game.”