Barton hits comeback trail at Hartlepool
NEWCASTLE United's Joey Barton makes his long-awaited comeback tonight – and the midfielder has promised to do his talking ON the pitch.
Injury-plagued Barton will play for the club's reserves away to Hartlepool United tonight (7pm kick-off).
The 27-year-old – who has been restricted to just 31 starts in almost three seasons at St James's Park by injury and off-the-field issues – has been out since September with a foot injury which needed surgery.
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And Barton – who hit the headlines with an verbal attack on footballers' lifestyles earier this season – is only focused on playing a part in helping Newcastle back to the Premier League, having made just six appearances so far in the Championship leaders' promotion push.
"I just want to focus on playing football now," said Barton, who came through 45 minutes of a behind-closed-doors game against Hibernian last week.
"The team have done a great job this season, and so have the staff – and I just want to do the business on the pitch again."
Meanwhile, Wesley Ngo Baheng – who returned from injury in the Northumberland Senior Cup defeat at Whitley Bay last week – is also in Alan Thompson's squad for the Victoria Park clash.
Admission to the game is 5 for adults, and 3 for concessions.
Newcastle United (from): Soderberg, Airey, Barton, Donaldson, Edmundsson, Ferguson, Folan, Godsmark, Leadbitter, Lough, McCrudden, McDermott, McLaughlin, Morris, Ngo Baheng, Tozer, Danquah.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
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Wind direction: South west
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