Injured Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton is expected to return in late April.

The 26-year old is recovering from a broken bone in his foot and rehabilitation is going as expected with a return for the Portsmouth clash on April 27 a possibility.

Magpies assistant Iain Dowie said Barton was progressing well.

"There has been a suggestion that Joey has had a setback somewhere, but that isn't the case," he told the club's official website.

"Everything is fine with him and his recovery is on schedule as far as we're all concerned.

"He desperately wants to get back playing again and we are all looking at the Portsmouth game at the moment for him to do that.

"If that comes round a little too soon for him then it will be the game after that.

"We'll have to see how he goes over the next week or so, but he is very determined, as you would imagine."