Barton on the brink

Newcastle look set to head to Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup tonight without Joey Barton after the midfielder underwent a medical at QPR last night.

Barton travelled to London earlier in the day for talks after the Loftus Road club was given permission to speak to the 28-year-old, still available on a free transfer after falling out with the Newcastle hierarchy earlier this summer.

The midfielder continues to state he wishes to remain at Newcastle, butwith only one year left on his contract and no new deal forthcoming, he believes he is being forced out.

“Going for a medical now, still no contract offer from NUFC.......think that just about makes my mind up,” Barton wrote on his Twitter account.

“Don’t want to leave Newcastle........I’ve made that clear but my hands are tied.”

Barton has played a key role in United’s first two games of the season despite effectively being a free agent after being told he could leave the club for nothing following an outburst against their transfer policies on Twitter.

Despite being relegation favourites following their promotion in May, last week’s takeover by tycoon Tony Fernandes has given the Hoops a fresh impetus and appeal and Barton could buy into it.

He could, though, stick to his previous claims he would only leave Newcastle for Champions League football.

It is understood the next move in the saga will come from QPR or Barton via his much-publicised Twitter account, with Newcastle and manager Alan Pardew waiting to see what unfolds.

Pardew was never going to pick Barton at Scunthorpe anyway, with a minor foot problem set to keep him out of action until Sunday’s clash with Fulham – a game he may now miss anyway.

On the field, Pardew and his players have enjoyed a fine start to the Barclays Premier League campaign, holding Arsenal to a draw on opening weekend and then leaving the Stadium of Light, the home of arch rivals Sunderland, with a 1-0 victory safely tucked under their belts last Saturday.

However, Ryan Taylor’s fine free-kick on Wearside remains their only goal to date, and while they have kept two clean sheets in the process, Pardew is keen to add a greater attacking threat to dogged defence – starting tonight.

He said: “We pride ourselves on some of the defensive work we do here. Last year when I was here, we were really tight and I was pleased with that.

“But of course, it’s only a platform to attack and the attacking side of our game needs to improve. We need to threaten the goal more than we have in the last two Premier League games.

“But our defensive display has been very, very good and hopefully we will take that to Scunthorpe.”