Having been dropped by Martin Jol, he seemed reluctant to take to the field as substitute.
Jol was told of his sacking after the UEFA Cup defeat to Getafe but his departure was common knowledge in the dressing room prior to the game; with the news breaking publicly while the match was in progress.
The TRUTH About Berbatov And Newcastle United!
Jol: "Something very strange happened just one minute before kick-off. Berbatov came over to me and said 'Sorry boss! Come on!'
"I thought that perhaps he was regretting what had happened in the previous match at Newcastle, or that he hadn't given me his best before, but it didn't cross my mind that he and the rest of the players had already been told by friends who had been texting them that I had been sacked.
"At St James' Park (when Berbatov appeared reluctant to come on as a substitute), a lot had been made in the media about Berbatov's attitude, that he didn't want to come on because he was sulking at being on the bench.
"Normally Chris Hughton would tell the players to warm up, but not this time. However, he didn't seem that keen to do it.
"I turned my shoulder again and this time looked him in the eye and told him 'come on, warm up' and he began to warm up.
"He never said he didn't want to come on, but that's how it has been perceived. But that's Berbatov, he always seems reluctant to do anything.
"Gifted, yes. But he is not a fighter. Perhaps you need others who are fighters to balance out the team."