Barton ruled out for two months

Barton's career at Newcastle has hit yet another problem

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has been ruled out for up to eight weeks after damaging knee ligaments in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Wigan.

The 26-year-old limped off after 17 minutes of the match following a challenge with Lee Cattermole.

Barton said: "I am not blaming Lee in any way. It was a 50-50 ball and we both went for it, these things happen.

"It's disappointing and frustrating. My sole intention is to knuckle down and bounce back and get fit again."

The injury will result in yet another interruption to Barton's career on Tyneside, which began last summer when he completed a £5.8m switch from Manchester City.

606: DEBATE This is the worst thing that could have happened, what a miserable 8 days - the loss to Fulham, draw with Wigan and now this Speedy Arau

A fractured metatarsal delayed his competitive debut, but the problems which have hampered him since have been largely self-inflicted.

He spent time behind bars on remand after being arrested following an incident in Liverpool city centre which later led to him serving 74 days in jail for assault and affray.

Barton was also handed a 12-game ban, six of them suspended, for a training ground incident involving then City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

He returned to action as a substitute in the derby defeat at Sunderland on 25 October and made his first start of the campaign three days later in the 2-1 home win over West Brom.

However, with just two further appearances under his belt, he may not play again this calendar year, further weakening the squad available to interim boss Joe Kinnear.