Barton has been refused early release by the prison authorities, so he will be playing for no-one come the opening game of the season.
The Bolton website on Vital Football report: "The Magpies midfielder was out on bail for an assault on team mate Ousmane Dabo when he attacked two people in Liverpool last Christmas. He was linked to Bolton last month, in a story concocted by Daily Mirror muppet, Alan 'Porky` Nixon."