Joey Barton has heaped praise on Newcastle United's Latin trio Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini for mucking in this season.

Rather than take the easy option and ensure trips to Barcelona's Nou Camp and Real Madrid's Bernabéu, the Spaniard and the two Argentina internationals took on the challenge of taking on Scunthorpe, Doncaster and Peterborough.

Barton told the Evening Chronicle: "They could have taken the easy option.

"You can get dragged down by a lot of things in this division.

"But the lads haven't let themselves - especially the Three Amigos. I can't see them having to play on pitches like at Peterborough where they are from! Hats off to them, they have been magnificent for us all season."