Kinnear wants Barton break

Newcastle temporary manager Joe Kinnear is hoping that Joey Barton will keep up his good form and prove just how useful he is. The Newcastle midfielder scored against Stoke last weekend.

Kinnear said: "It was fitting he scored. He would have been in serious trouble if he'd missed because I think Obafemi Martins was penalty taker and normally Michael Owen takes them but he grabbed the ball because he wanted to prove a point. He took it well so let him play football and get on with it.

"'He is on fire in the dressing room. He is a very popular lad in the squad and it would not surprise me if he tells Michael Owen he wants penalty taking all the time. He has the nerve to do that.

"I know people will dig up his past and it won't make him better in some people's eyes but in football terms it has done him a world of good."