Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear will not allow team selection to be dictated by critics on Toon bad boy Joey Barton. Barton proved a central character in the derby defeat at Sunderland despite being on the field only for the last few minutes following his return from a six-game disciplinary ban.

The £5.8million signing has already served a prison stretch and assaulted his former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

The 61-year-old said: "I am being criticised for bringing Joey back, but I have got to do the best I possibly can with the squad I have.

"I am not going to listen to people or pay lip-service to anybody. I am playing Joey Barton because he is a good player.

"I am not going to have anybody else tell me different."