NEWCASTLE UNITED playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa has been backed to light up Euro 2012 after being included in France's initial list of 12 overseas-based players selected by France.

Ben Arfa and Magpies team-mate Yohan Cabaye have both been included in the group of players, which will be increased next week when France boss Laurent Blanc adds those in the French league to his list.

Ben Arfa is the name that has caught the eye the most in Paris because he has not figured in a Blanc squad since earning his eighth cap in August 2010.

The Newcastle forward has not featured at all in qualification for this summer's European Championships, his last international appearance arrived shortly before he broke his leg playing for the Magpies against Manchester City.

That outing was in Blanc's first match in charge against Norway, in which the former Bordeaux boss dropped all the players involved in Les Bleus' atrocious World Cup campaign in South Africa.

But the France boss is confident Ben Arfa can shine in the Ukraine and Poland finals. He said: "We have monitored him and can count on him for the knockout stages of the Euro.

"Sadly after a dispute with Marseille, when I told him to be calm, he left for Newcastle where he suffered a terrible injury.

"I have watched him play again and watched him recuperating at Clairefontaine (national academy); he took some time to come back but his talent was always there and always will be, and he has shown more maturity this season."

Ben Arfa is joined on the list by seven other English-based players, including club-mate Cabaye and Manchester City pair Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.

Centre-halves Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) and Younes Kaboul (Tottenham), Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra and Chelsea winger Florent Malouda are also among those called up.

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema provide attacking options while Adil Rami of Valencia and AC Milan's Philippe Mexes join Koscielny and Kaboul among the central defensive options.

The likes of Cabaye, Marseille's Morgan Amalfitano and Arsenal target Yann M'Vila of Rennes - the latter two expected to feature on a second list of home-based players, to be released next Tuesday - have little real experience.

Blanc said: "I almost have my list of 23. My final hesitation concerns a long-term problem - the midfield is suffering from a lack of leadership and a lack of players with international experience.

"There are players who have the potential to be in the France team - but players who have proven they can really be a part of it, there are very few." Blanc's final 23-man squad for the championship must be submitted to UEFA by May 29.