Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Hughton cools Barton reports

09 Aug 2009 - 12:23:24

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Newcastle United caretaker manager Chris Hughton has played down claims that Joey Barton was dropped for Saturday's season opener against West Bromwich Albion.

The controversial midfielder started the Magpies' first game in the Championship on the bench amid reports of a training ground bust-up with Hughton.

Barton was reported to have been involved in a dispute with team-mates Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini and then Hughton, but the interim manager was keen to play down the incident following the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.

"We are getting used to rumours at Newcastle United," he said.

"It is something that we have to work around."

Barton had been expected to leave St James' Park this summer after being suspended by former caretaker manager Alan Shearer for the final weeks of the last campaign following a red card.