Fitness Boast for Barton?

Again it`s an injury booster of a day, with both Habib Beye and Joey Barton making positive noises about returning by early April. With Michael Owen already looking like coming back for the Hull game and the niggles clearing up in light of no cup commitments it paints a positive picture for the final run in.

On his injury, Beye said: 'We have talked about Chelsea on April 4th. But I would like to think I could be back in the team for the Arsenal game. I was determined to play again this season. On Boxing Day, they thought four months, now I am one month ahead. If I am back by the end of March there will be six or seven games to play. That wouldn't be bad.'

Meanwhile, speaking about Joey Barton, Coach Chris said: "There is no chance of Joey being back in early March. He`s still probably four weeks away. He`s still wearing the surgical boot, he`s not allowed too much movement.

I feel for Joey because it`s one of the most frustrating injuries. There isn`t so much you can do. He can work upper body but once he gets the boot off, he can do some more work. I think it`s the type of injury that tends to be a set time."

http://www.newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=145279

More Joey's injury News

*From what I can tell in ranges from 3-10 weeks that Joey will be out (which really really sucks). He is to have a scan tomorrow and hopefully we will know more then. He did a really great job today against City (my Fox Soccer Channel commentators said he was their best player until he went off). Lets hope Joey is only out for a few weeks and not 10 weeks. I was lucky enough to see him score back in October and hopefully we will see him scoring sooner than later because Newcastle need him very badly.

Here are some more links regarding the injury news.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4866062,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7857350.stm

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=613842&sec=england&campaign=rss&source=soccernet&&cc=5901

**Note that varies websites give different lengths of recovery for Joey. Check here tomorrow for hopefully news regarding his scan.**

Barton injured in City Defeat

NEWCASTLE United have suffered a double blow after Michael Owen and Joey Barton picked up injuries during the defeat at Manchester City.

Toon striker Owen is set to be out for around eight weeks after sustaining an ankle injury, while midfielder Barton will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks with a broken foot.

Manager Joe Kinnear said: "I'm absolutely devastated. It doesn't leave us with many options and time is running out in the transfer window."

It means more bad news for the Toon Army after another disappointing display at Eastlands which saw United lose 2-1.
Shaun Wright-Phillips got the first goal before former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy returned to haunt his former club with the winning strike.

A late consolation from Andy Carroll sparked some hopes among the fans, but it was not meant to be.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/01/28/michael-owen-and-barton-injured-in-city-defeat-72703-22806273/

Kinnear Looking To Joey Barton To Provide Newcastle United Boost

Joey Barton has played his part in helping aggravate the turmoil surrounding Newcastle United this season. Spats with team-mates, a six game ban, criminal convictions and injuries have played their part in contributing to the chaos that seems to perpetually surround St James' Park these days.

Now though, Toon manager Joe Kinnear is hoping that the midfielder's return, who, despite his well-document 'issues', has bucket loads of talent, can help provide an additional boost to his squad after the signing of Peter Lovenkrands today, and the news that Obafemi Martins will soon be back in action.

"Having Joey back is a big bonus," Kinnear told the club's official website.

"I thought it was important to give him a run-out at Blackburn and then again in Tuesday's game with Carlisle. He has a great desire to win and is a box-to-box midfielder who will give his all.

"He could be a very important player for us between now and the end of the season."

Barton provides box-to-box enthusiasm and carries a goal-threat as well as possessing a crunching tackle. Already short on numbers in midfield, Barton's return will must come as a relief, of nothing else, to Kinnear, who saw midfielder Danny Guthrie limp out of training with a hamstring injury yesterday.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/700/newcastle/2009/01/21/1071788/kinnear-looking-to-joey-barton-to-provide-newcastle-united-boost

Barton Boost is Massive for Joe

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1527845,00.html

Joey Barton to up fitness in Carlisle friendly

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.’’

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/01/19/joey-barton-to-up-fitness-in-carlisle-friendly-72703-22725367/

Look who is back in training!!!

To see pics of Joey back in training click here : http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1522947,00.html