The 25-year-old, who joined the Magpies in a $32m summer switch from City, will make his comeback from a fractured metatarsal at the Regional Athletics Arena close to the City of Manchester Stadium.

Barton's inclusion in a strong second string came after manager Sam Allardyce had effectively ruled him out of first-team action for another month.

The England international revealed last week he was targeting Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at St James' Park for his return.

However, Allardyce said: "Joey Barton has got no chance for Everton on Sunday. It will be four or five weeks, or at least three or four reserve team games."

Allardyce's unwillingness to take any chances with his injured players is understandable with the likes of Barton, Stephen Carr, Peter Ramage, Claudio Cacapa, Celestine Babayaro, Damien Duff, Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi all missing for Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.

But just how long he will resist the temptation to throw him back into senior action if he comes through tomorrow's game unscathed remains to be seen.

The midfielder has been out of action since suffering his injury in a pre-season friendly at Carlisle.

Barton will be joined by summer signings Jose Enrique and Abdoulaye Faye in Manchester, while Turkey international Emre will also start as he searches for full match fitness.

Meanwhile, England striker Owen was back on Tyneside today to start his rehabilitation from surgery in Germany last week with national boss Steve McClaren as interested as Allardyce in his swift recovery.

The 27-year-old will certainly miss the Everton game as his side looks to bounce back from successive away defeats by Arsenal and City.

Keeper Shay Given played in both of those games after Allardyce decided to end Steve Harper's stint as number one.

The 32-year-old proved a more than able deputy as Given was sidelined by a groin injury, and the Irishman admitted he felt for his close friend after finally getting the nod.

He said: "I had a word with Steve - he was frustrated. It is difficult for both of us when we are not playing.

"We both get as frustrated as each other. We both want to play and the manager's decision could have gone either way. Steve could have played just as easily.

"We are both itching to play and it's the manager's decision. Luckily for me, he picked me. The problem with goalkeepers is that only one of us can play. We work together every day and try to help each other as much as we can. I am sure come Monday morning, it will be the same."

Allardyce admitted Given's display in the Carling Cup third round defeat at Arsenal last Tuesday night had persuaded him to restore the 31-year-old to the starting line-up.

He said: "It was a really difficult decision. I just thought on the Arsenal performance, it was the right thing to put him in. That was my gut feeling.

"If ever there was a player who did not deserve to be dropped, it was Stevie Harper.

"But you have got to go with your gut feeling, and the gut feeling was to go with Shay based on the outstanding performance I thought he put in against Arsenal."