Joey Barton now hopes to be fit in January -and that’s a big improvement from the initial prognosis of a March return.

Joey Barton – back in January
Joey had a foot operation earlier this month – but his cast has now been removed and he was at the Benton training headquarters last week.

Joey had some exploratory surgery done on the foot that was continually niggling him, and obviously affected his form before the operation – or at least it looked like it did.

Chris Hughton originally thought that Barton would miss up to four months of the season, and the news now is that Joey hopes to return sometime in January – excellent news and  it will be like having a new player.

A Newcastle insider told the Evening Chronicle today:

“Joey has been back this week and was all smiles after a short break.”  “He’s back in rehab now and has also had the cast removed from his foot.”

“Things are looking up for him on the injury front, and he is hoping that he can make a return in January some time.”

“He really wants to play some part in Newcastle’s promotion challenge and that is the goal he has set.”  “He hopes he can put the nightmare of the last few years behind him and start afresh in 2010.”

This is good news and Joey can still be a big player for Newcastle this season,  if he can only reproduce his old form.

Comments welcome.