Source: Northern_Echo
Barton is back for Magpies
JOEY Barton will return to Newcastle United's starting line-up on Sunday, with Chris Hughton tipping the controversial midfielder for an England call-up.[LNB] Barton has completed a three-match suspension following an off-the-ball incident with Blackburn midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen last month, and will go straight back into the side for the trip to West Brom.[LNB] His recent ban, which was issued retrospectively after referee Michael Jones missed the clash during Newcastle's 2-1 defeat, wrecked a recent improvement in the midfielder's disciplinary record, and dampened mounting enthusiasm for a possible recall to the England squad.[LNB] However, after watching striker Andy Carroll make his international debut in last month's 2-1 defeat to France, Hughton sees no reason why Barton should not follow his team-mate into Fabio Capello's ranks.[LNB] Joey has been in good form, and any time people are talking about an England call-up is because somebody is playing well in the top division,[LNB] said the Magpies manager. That is exactly what Joey had been doing and hopefully he can continue that on his return.[LNB] When I first came, he played in the second half of the 2007-08 season under Kevin Keegan and was magnificent.[LNB] He was not a problem and we have seen more of that ability on show this season.[LNB] It is about consistency and we hope to keep him in the team for as long as we can because he is an important player for this club.[LNB] Barton is expected to replace Danny Guthrie in Sunday's starting XI and resume his central-midfield partnership with Cheik Tiote.[LNB] Liverpool secured top spot in Group K of the Europa League with a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest in Romania but required a helping hand from their rivals after a howler from goalkeeper Jose Reina.[LNB] Milan Jovanovic's first-half header was cancelled out when the Reds captain on the night allowed Eder Bonfim's effort to escape his grasp and creep over the line.[LNB] A point would have been enough to put Roy Hodgson's side through but with Utrecht's 3-3 draw with Napoli confirmed that ensured they could not be caught at the top of the table with a match still to play.[LNB]
