Barton faces fitness test

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will make a late decision on midfielder Joey Barton ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke.

The 28-year-old has missed the last two games with a thigh problem, and although he has returned to training, he will not be risked unless he is 100% fit.

Pardew has problems on the left with full-back Jose Enrique rated as very doubtful and Jonas Gutierrez also struggling, both with hamstring injuries, while Stephen Ireland (thigh) is definitely out.

Striker Nile Ranger has recovered from the knock which kept him out of the 2-1 home defeat by Everton but Ryan Taylor serves the second instalment of his three-match ban and Dan Gosling (knee), Alan Smith (ankle) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg) remain on the casualty list.

Provisional squad (from): Harper, Krul, Simpson, Perch, Ferguson, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Campbell, S. Taylor, Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Vuckic, Richardson, Lovenkrands, Best, Ameobi, Ranger, Kuqi.