Newcastle boss Kinnear warns Barton to keep his cool

NEWCASTLE manager Joe Kinnear has warned Joey Barton not to give his critics any further ammunition as he attempts to rebuild his career.

The 26-year-old midfielder has featured in the club’s last three games after completing a six-match disciplinary ban on top of the prison sentence he had to serve during the summer. However, he has already found himself in the headlines, first after being targeted by Sunderland fans and then becoming involved in a spat with Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor which led to allegations of racist abuse.

Neither Villa nor the FA decided to take any further action after Monday night’s incident but the former Manchester City midfielder has been left in little doubt every action will be scrutinised in minute detail.