Keegan believes Barton finally won over Newcastle United's fans – not to mention his team-mates – in the late-season run which safeguarded the club's Premier League status.

Barton will not feature in Newcastle's final game of the season against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday as his bail conditions prevent him visiting his native Liverpool.

The 25-year-old's absence will be a blow to his manager, with Keegan having named Barton in his last eight starting line-ups.

Barton's United career could not have got off to a more frustrating start, with the midfielder – signed from Manchester City last summer – breaking his foot in pre-season and missing the first two months of the campaign.

On his return he then struggled to find any kind of form, and only in the past couple of months has Barton started to look anything like a £5.8m player.

While admitting Barton's troubles are "of his own making", Keegan says has still been impressed with the way his former City of Manchester Stadium charge has been able to focus on his football with so much else happening in his life.

Keegan told the Gazette: "I think Joey can be really pleased with his performances and the way he's handled a tough situation.

"Only those close to him know how tough it's been. It's of his own making, of course, and he's got to go to the courts in the summer, but what he has done here is win over the fans.

"He's certainly won over a lot of his team-mates, who didn't know quite what he was like before.

"I think he's handled it as well as you could expect, and his performances have been outstanding when you consider the things at the back of his mind.

"I think he'll be proud of himself, in that respect."

Barton made 22 appearamces, and scored one goal, for Newcastle this season.

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