Newcastle tell Barton to train on his own as rift widens

Barton was told on Monday he can leave on a free transfer, amid his ongoing criticisms of the Magpies’ hierarchy on Twitter and the breakdown in talks over a new deal.

Returning to the social networking site yesterday, Barton announced the club have also now hit him in the pocket.

For Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and manager Alan Pardew, Barton’s ‘tweets’ appear to have been the final straw, the duo willing to let him leave for nothing even though he has another year remaining on his contract.

Despite the turbulent situation, less than two weeks before the start of the Barclays Premier League season, Barton turned up for training yesterday as normal.

However, he was told to train alone, initially describing that as “predictable” on his Twitter feed.

Barton even took to quoting George Orwell just before that when he wrote: “In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act.”

Barton also further expressed his feelings over local press reports, claiming club officials were making “false statements”.

“I also have too much respect for my team-mates and the fans to get in a tit-for-tat war with them. I have too much self-worth and dignity,” Barton wrote.

It appears only a matter of time before the 28-year-old’s four-season spell on Tyneside draws to a close, with a number of clubs rumoured to be in the running for his signature.

Agent Willie McKay has confirmed he has been contacted, and that there “won’t be a problem finding Joey a home”.

Despite his troubled past, which includes a 2008 prison sentence for actual bodily harm and affray, Barton is understood to have kindled interest from several clubs and has been linked with Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton, the latter of which would mean a return to his Merseyside roots.

Anderlecht have struck a deal to sign out-of-favour forward Milan Jovanovic from Liverpool.

The Belgian club announced the news on their website, saying that the deal will be completed once Jovanovic passes a medical tomorrow.

Jovanovic, now 30, joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Standard Liege last summer, having impressed former Reds boss Rafael Benitez, but he was unable to establish himself in the Premier League.

Sunderland stepped up their Barclays Premier League preparations with a 3-1 win over Hartlepool in a testimonial for Pools’ former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Ritchie Humphreys last night.

The npower League One hosts took an early lead through a tidy finish from former Newcastle man Nolberto Solano, signed on a free transfer following his release by Hull City at the end of last season, but Asamoah Gyan headed the Black Cats level shortly after the half-hour.

Kieran Richardson set up the impressive Jack Colback, who moments earlier had seen penalty appeals waved away, to powerfully fire Sunderland ahead early in the second half and Sebastian Larsson made it 3-1 from Stephane Sessegnon’s cross.

Everton were beaten 1-0 away to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, Sandro Wagner heading the only goal 10 minutes before half-time.

QPR enjoyed a 4-2 win over League Two newcomers Crawley at Broadfield Stadium.