While Barton's lay-off with knee ligament damage is proving a lengthy one, boss Joe Kinnear has better news on Shola Ameobi and Damien Duff, both injured in training late last week.

The pair's problems are not long-term, and they are likely to be back in the frame for the fixture against Portsmouth at Fratton Park a week on Sunday.

Barton, meanwhile, has been sidelined since Lee Cattermole put him out of the Wigan Athletic game last month with a tough challenge.

And Kinnear is hoping he will be back well in time for the visit to his old club Manchester City on January 28, and the Tyne-Wear derby at St James's Park in early February.

Forgotten man Alan Smith, meanwhile, is also looking to resume training by the end of next month after his long lay-off with an ankle injury, though no date has been put on Nacho Gonzalez's return.

"We've just had Joey's injury re-assessed, and the doctor and physio team tell me we can expect to have him back in the middle of January," said Kinnear.

"Now that he has a date to aim for it'll give Joey a big lift, and the same applies to Alan Smith, who we're hoping to have back with us by the end of January following his injury problems.

"But at this moment we don't know when Gonzalez will be returning."

Ameobi, meanwhile, has a slim chance of making the squad for Saturday's home game against Stoke City, but Kinnear is unwilling – and unlikely now Mark Viduka is back to fitness himself – to press him back into action too early.

Kinnear added: "Shola has an ankle and foot injury, and he's still doubtful for Saturday. He's probably 50-50, but I don't think it would be wise to risk him.

"While Damien Duff will not make Saturday, I'm expecting him to be with us when we go to Portsmouth next weekend."

It would be Duff's first return to Fratton Park since the wide man suffered a career-threatening ankle injury against Portsmouth two seasons ago.