JOEY BARTON will get the chance to step up his fitness in tomorrow’s behind-closed-doors friendly with Carlisle.
United will also look at Danish winger Peter Lovenkrands in the game and a host of young trial players. But boss Joe Kinnear will be keen for Barton to get 90 minutes under his belt.
The Toon midfielder made a shock return against Blackburn 11 days ahead of schedule after recovering from a knee injury.
However, Barton got through his cameo role at Ewood Park unscathed despite being involved in an altercation with team-mate Jose Enrique. He rowed with the full-back for not tracking back for Blackburn’s third goal.
Kinnear told the Chronicle: “I didn’t have to put Joey on, but we’re desperate to have him back in the middle of the park and desperate to get him super fit.
“I wanted to get something like 15 to 20 minutes into him.
“I’m always thinking about the next game.
“Otherwise, it would be a case of putting a lot of young kids in and leaving players out.”
Kinnear will be without Nicky Butt after the player’s red card at Ewood Park, meaning he will be even keener to field Barton at his old club Manchester City in nine days.
Toon fans will also be keen to see Jonas Gutierrez back in the starting line-up at Eastlands after chanting: “We want Spiderman” for long periods until his late appearance.
Kinnear said afterwards his limited pitch time was down to a hamstring injury picked up in training during the week.
But he fears that other than Barton and Gutierrez, there may not be any more players back from the treatment room for the trip to Man City.
Kinnear said: “The fans came down in their thousands and will have gone back bitterly disappointed.
“Jonas hadn’t trained all week. I wasn’t sure if I was going to play him but decisions have to be made.
“We’ve got too many players who are half-fit and on their way back.’’
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