Newcastle to hold talks with jailed Barton

Newcastle United plan to hold talks with jailed midfielder Joey Barton as soon as possible after he was convicted of assault yesterday for the second time in less than two months.

Greater Manchester Police said Barton was handed a suspended four month sentence for knocking out former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo and beating him on the ground during a training session last year.

The pair clashed after a simmering row during a training session on May 1, 2007.

Dabo, 31, pushed Barton's shoulder and was knocked unconscious. Eyewitnesses recalled Barton getting on top of the player and repeatedly hitting him.

Dabo was treated in hospital for the effects of head trauma, an inflamed eye and bruised eyelids. He also suffered from headaches for three weeks and missed several matches.

One player, Georgios Samaras, said he had never seen such a violent incident on a football pitch in all his career. Samaras stated he would "never forget it".

"Newcastle United notes the sentence passed to Joey Barton; the club now intends to hold discussions with Joey and his representatives at the earliest possible opportunity," Newcastle United said in a statement.

"Until such time that this meeting has taken place, there will be no further comment from the club."

Barton, 25, returned to jail after his court appearance yesterday as he is still serving a six-month sentence for beating up a teenager during a night out last December. Police released television surveillance footage of the attack on Monday.

Barton, who has one England cap, joined Newcastle United for 5.8 million pounds in July 2007 after the training ground incident effectively ended his career with Manchester City.

Barton's four-month sentence was suspended for two years.