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Barton return a boost for boss
Newcastle United, 13:00, March 11, 2010 ,
Chris Hughton says Joey Barton is progressing well from his broken foot after playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Newcastle.
The Magpies chief has been without the combative 27-year-old midfielder for six months after he picked up the foot injury earlier in the Championship campaign. However, following Barton's good show in the first half of the Toon's 4-1 victory over Hibernian on Monday night, Hughton is happy with how his rehabilitation is going.
"It was his first game and he played for 45 minutes and we've got to be mindful of that," Hughton told Sky Sports News.
"We've got to protect him that way and we've got to make sure that when he is available then physically he's able to cope with the demands.
"But his progress has been good in the last few weeks and he's very much enjoying being back in the fold."