The Answer To Big Sam's Prayers!

Barton: "I certainly hope and feel I can bring energy and goals from midfield. I suppose that's why I was brought to Newcastle.

"Hopefully when I come back I can get to a level where I do myself justice and get off to a good start.

"I am desperate to get involved and desperate to make a good impression with Newcastle United.

"I am still a little bit away from being fit to start for the first team.

"It was important to play 45 minutes. I had three training sessions before this, but playing a game is a bit more competitive.

"There was a little bit of contact, but it is always enjoyable to play again and I have come through it with no knocks.

"I got what I needed from last night and enjoyed every bit of it. The lads worked very hard last night.

"It is massively disappointing to join a new club and then not be involved.

"I don't know if I am ahead of schedule or not. It was meant to be six weeks to start with, but the break was worse than we first thought.

"It is just important that we take things step by step and I don't rush back too soon.

"I am doing everything I can to get back and hopefully get back in contention as soon as possible.

"The body always lets you know when you are ready and it will tell me when it is ready to go.

"Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.

"I will see how I feel in the next few days. I have a few aches and pains but that is what you usually get in football.

"I will train with the team Friday, Saturday, Sunday and then just see what happens from there."

"I am gutted to miss Everton, but you are governed by what your body tells you.

"I don't want to come back and miss more games.

"If you rush back you could end up out for a significant amount of time, and if I have to miss Everton to make sure I am fit for the rest of the season, so be it.

"Hopefully this will be the end of my injuries at Newcastle United.

"We were disappointed after Saturday, but it isn't easy to go anywhere and get good results these days in the Premier League.

"Although we are disappointed that we lost, because we see Man City as rivals for a European place, we can bounce back against Everton.

"It will be tough against a team that are also going for a top-six place but I am sure the lads can do it."