Barton dropped to bench amid rumours of a bust-up (From The Northern Echo)

Barton dropped to bench amid rumours of a bust-up

5:00pm Saturday 8th August 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

JOEY Barton has been dropped to the substitutes' bench for Newcastle's Championship opener at West Brom amid rumours of a training ground bust-up.

Barton is understood to have clashed with defender Fabricio Coloccini during training on Friday, and interim manager Chris Hughton has left him out of his starting line-up at the Hawthorns.

As a result, Kevin Nolan will revert to his preferred midfield position alongside Alan Smith, with Shola Ameobi partnering Andy Carroll in a two-man attack.

Fabricio Coloccini partners Steven Taylor at the heart of the back four, with Ryan Taylor and Jose Enrique filling the full-back positions.

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Martis, Cech, Koren, Greening, Mulumbu, Brunt, Wood, Moore.

Subs: Kiely, Barnett, Beattie, Dorrans, Reid, Teixera, Cox.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Harper, R Taylor, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Gutierrez, Smith, Nolan, Duff, Ameobi, Carroll.

Subs: Krul, Barton, Xisco, Geremi, Lua Lua, Kadar, Ranger.