Barton set to sit out Fulham clash

Joey Barton is unlikely to be included in the Newcastle squad for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Fulham as he considers his future.

The 28-year-old has this week undergone a medical at QPR, but is yet to agree to join the promoted club, and manager Alan Pardew does not believe he would be in the right frame of mind to play.

Central defender Mike Williamson is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in last night’s 2-1 Carling Cup victory at Scunthorpe, while keeper Steve Harper will miss out with a knee problem and striker Shola Ameobi could be limited by a hip injury.

Provisional squad: Krul, Sodeberg, Simpson, R. Taylor, Ferguson, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Marveaux, Obertan, Gosling, Smith, Abeid, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Best, Vuckic, Sammy Ameobi.