Barton had an 80-minute run out for Newcastle United's reserves against Middlesbrough in front of a couple of hundred fans last night.

However, there will be nothing low key about his first-team return, should he make it on to the pitch against Sunderland at a sold-out Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Barton spoke candidly in the car park at Billingham Synthonia's Central Avenue ground after playing his part in the a 4-1 win for the second string, admitting he was yet to pay even a fraction of his £5.8m fee back to the club which rescued him from Manchester City last year.

The 26-year-old, maybe surprisingly for some one of the most articulate players at St James's Park, hadn't intended to speak to the handful of journalists who had travelled to Teesside for the game.

But the midfielder – who has served both a prison sentence and Football Association ban since his start for Newcastle – clearly had a lot to get off his chest after a troubled year.

"Hopefully I can just do a job for this football club," said Barton.

"It's down to me to turn in performances for the fans and everyone else at the club who I've let down the past, players and staff included.

"I want to start paying back my transfer fee, which I don't think I did at any stage last year."

Now it's finally time for Barton to let his feet do the talking, and what better opposition than Sunderland?