Newcastle confirm Barton fears

At his peak with City, Barton scored and created goals, and Newcastle manager Alan Shearer is desperate for him to do just that at St James' Park (GETTY IMAGES)

Newcastle have confirmed that Joey Barton has fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot and is expected to be out for around eight weeks.

Barton, who will undergo surgery, suffered the injury while playing against his former club Manchester City last night and his frustration was immediately clear when he hurled one of his boots to the ground as he made his way back to the dressing room at Eastlands.

The club are also expecting an update on how long Michael Owen might be out for later today with the England striker due to have a scan on his injured ankle.

The injuries came as a double blow to Magpies boss Joe Kinnear who said last night: "It is one thing after another and life is seriously tough at the moment."

The Newcastle boss has little room to manoeuvre in the transfer market either after revealing the full extent of owner Mike Ashley's losses during the current financial turmoil.

"The credit crunch is killing us," said Kinnear.

"(Owner) Mike (Ashley) has lost two billion quid in his own businesses and shares. He is just about paying the wages but it is not an easy situation.

"You look at Tottenham paying £16m here and £14m there. I would love to spend money like that but I can't. You can see why so many people bottled this job."