Despite the club saying they would no longer comment on the future Joey Barton, manager Alan Pardew hopes he can reconcile with the midfielder.
The Magpies have told the 28-year old he can leave on a free transfer as a feud between club hierarchy and player continues but Pardew suggests he may still have a future at St James' Park.
"I think it's a situation that I didn't envisage we would be in. Obviously Joey is a great player and you want great players in your team," he said at a press conference today.
"But I think it is also very, very important at any football club and any organisation, especially one as big as ours, that you are pulling in the same direction, everybody.
"We find ourselves at this moment in time that Joey is not pulling with us. That doesn't mean to say that can't change very quickly.
"I think this whole process, for me, has been a time to stand in the background, let everybody reflect a little bit.
"Of course today is the press conference for the game (a pre-season friendly against Fiorentina on Saturday), so I'm obliged to say, but I'm still really reflecting, as Joey is, how to best resolve this and I think I have never closed the door on any one individual and I won't close the door on Joey."
