Barton back for Toon

Joey Barton returns for Newcastle at Ewood Park and made only his fourth start after arriving from Manchester City in the summer.

The midfielder’s re-appearance in the side comes on the day he criticised a section of the club’s support, claiming some of the abuse directed at manager Sam Allardyce and the players had been “vicious”.

Barton is one of three changes to the side that lost to Liverpool, with Newcastle looking to address a run of three defeats in four matches.

Abdoulaye Faye and James Milner are also recalled with Emre, Mark Viduka and Jose Enrique were all on the bench.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes makes one change to the team that lost heavily at home to Aston Villa in midweek, recalling Tugay with Ryan Nelsen suspended.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Kerimoglu, Mokoena, Dunn, Santa Cruz, McCarthy.

Subs: Brown, Savage, Pedersen, Reid, Roberts.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Rozehnal, Faye, N’Zogbia, Geremi, Butt, Barton, Martins, Smith, Milner.

Subs: Harper, Carr, Jose Enrique, Emre, Viduka.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.