JOEY Barton is hoping to make his eagerly-awaited Newcastle United debut against his boyhood heroes, Everton, in ten days' time.

The tough-tackling midfielder has grudgingly accepted that he will not be fit enough to face his former employers, Manchester City, on Saturday as he continues to battle his way back to full fitness following a pre-season foot injury.

Barton broke his foot in July's pre-season friendly with Carlisle, just weeks after completing a £5.8m move from the City of Manchester Stadium, and has not played since.

But after joining a small group of his team-mates during their half-time exercises at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, Barton is confident of being involved in the home game with Everton on October 7.

"When I finally get back is the million-dollar question for me at the moment," said Barton, who used to travel to Goodison Park from his home in Huyton to watch Everton as a youngster.

"I've not been training with the boys because I can't do contact stuff. That should happen next week, though, and I hope to be involved in the Everton game.

"That's the target at the moment and it's obviously an exciting one for me. It has given me an aim and I'm pushing to be involved in the squad for that one."

Barton's two-month lay-off could hardly have come at a worse time, as it has robbed the 25-year-old of an opportunity to push his claims for a regular place in Newcastle's first-choice midfield.

Both Geremi and Nicky Butt have established their midfield credentials in his absence, while Allardyce has also shelled out £2m to sign the combative Abdoulaye Faye from Bolton.

Barton admits it has been difficult to watch his new team-mates jockeying for a starting spot, but claims his enforced absence has enabled him to reassess his possible role and responsibilities in the side.

"I've been trying to get involved as much as I can and I've travelled to a lot of the away games," he explained. "But it's difficult not being on the pitch. I do as much as I can in the dressing room, but I'm desperate to get back.

"The medical staff are slowly guiding me back in and, hopefully, it's going to be sooner rather than later. The longest I've ever spent out through injury was six weeks so this has been hard to take.

"Injuries are part of the game we're involved in, but it's still difficult to deal with when you get one before you've even played a competitive game for your new club. I'm in a new environment and I wanted to put a marker down, show people what I could do, but I've not been able to do that. I've been stuck in limbo a bit.

"However, I'll bounce back strongly. Everything happens for a reason and I've had the chance to look at different aspects of my game and work out how I'm going to fit into this Newcastle team."

Prior to his injury, Barton had been touted as a possible Newcastle captain, a position that eventually went to his fellow midfielder, Geremi. Now, he is not even guaranteed a place in Allardyce's preferred starting XI, a situation he has been forced to accept thanks to the Magpies' impressive start to the Premier League season.

"Hopefully, I can get back into the side," he said. "But I think if you take the Derby game out of the equation, it's been a great start to the season in the league.

"Even when I'm fit again, I might have to wait for my chance to get into the midfield because the players in those positions have been playing well.

"I'm not going to assume anything.

"I joined this club because I thought I could be successful and win trophies, and I don't see any reason why that view should have changed because of what I've seen this season. There's obviously a lot of work to be done, but we're starting to get a strong squad with competition for places."

While Michael Owen met leading German specialist Ulrike Muschaweck ahead of a scheduled hernia operation, Allardyce has sought to allay fears that defender Claudio Cacapa could also be facing surgery.

Cacapa also limped out of Sunday's 3-1 win over West Ham with a groin problem, but Allardyce expects the centre-half to be available for Saturday's trip to Manchester City.