Former Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa has spoken of his "hell'' on Tyneside as his career in English football drew to a close.
The 28-year-old has won a return to the France squad after excelling with current club Nice, whom Ben Arfa signed with in June after sitting out for six months to comply with FIFA regulations following his departure from Newcastle.
Ben Arfa's career in England ended with a failed loan spell to Hull City after a falling out with then-Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who left the Frenchman to train with the club's reserves.
Ben Arfa told www.francefootball.fr: "It was a very, very difficult period. The worst of my career. It was as if my hell began at Newcastle.
"There, on the first day back in August 2014, I was placed directly with the reserves. A terrible humiliation. Weeks passed and I was always with these young 16 and 17 year olds away from the pros.
"I did not understand. They gave me a nightmare. It was full of little cheap shots. And when I believed in me [getting out] by signing for Nice, they were forbidden to hire me [until July].''
"I had the feeling of being locked in a dark room without a door, or in an endless tunnel. I saw hell and especially no solution to my problems. At that time, I was wrong, I did not see any light. I was a prisoner.
"I was slapping myself every day to not let go. I tried to convince myself that the light was coming back, I was going to find the right path."