Read more about Newcastle United.
Barton close to return - Shearer
Newcastle United, 10:19, April 24, 2009 ,
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton could return against Portsmouth on Monday by being named among the substitutes.
The former Man City star has been out of action for most of the year with a broken metatarsal but is closing in on a return although interim boss Alan Shearer admits he is well short of match fitness.
Ahead of the home clash with Pompey on Monday, Shearer declared: "Joey could do a big job for us. We're trying everything to get him fit because the more bodies we have, the more it will help us.
"Whether he'll make Monday, we'll have to see. If he does, he certainly won't be match-fit. But there's no point pushing him to the extreme. We don't want to push him so much that we cause a setback.
"When he is handed over to us for full training, we want him to be right."