French winger Hatem Ben Arfa has returned to his home country and will not appear again for English Premier League side Hull City, sports daily L'Equipe reported on Saturday.

L'Equipe said that the 27-year-old, who hails from the Paris suburbs, has been back in the French capital for the last three days working with a fitness trainer while he searches for a new club.

Ben Arfa, who won the last of his 13 caps for France at Euro 2012, joined Hull on a season-long loan from Newcastle United in the summer but has failed to make an impact despite eight Premier League appearances for the Tigers.

The report added that talks are underway to release Ben Arfa from his loan at Hull, who wish to get his 250,000-euro (£198,000, $311,000) monthly salary off their wage bill.

That would enable the former Lyon and Marseille player to find a new club in the January transfer window, with L'Equipe saying clubs in Germany, Spain and France are interested, along with two teams in Brazil.

Speaking to media in England this week ahead of his side's trip to face Premier League leaders Chelsea, Hull manager Steve Bruce said: "Hatem Ben Arfa - it hasn't worked just yet.

"The people that we brought in to give us that extra dimension - it hasn't quite happened yet but we have to give it time."

Hull currently lie in the relegation zone and have gone eight games without a win.