The 25-year-old, who spent 74 days in jail after being sentenced to six months' imprisonment for assault and affray, is currently working towards match fitness as he attempts to resume his chequered career.

But manager Kevin Keegan has revealed he will probably not figure before the personal hearing he requested after admitting an FA charge of violent conduct towards former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

That will take place on Friday, September 5 during the break for international matches.

Newcastle face promoted Hull at St James' Park eight days later, and Barton's chances of participating look slim amid speculation the FA's regulatory commission could hand him a lengthy ban.

Keegan said: "What we have got to do with Joey is just try to assess where his fitness is.

"It is all right to come in and play a game, but how will he react after it?

"I am fully aware he has got his thing on September 5, and it is highly unlikely Joey will be involved with us beforehand.

"If he was fit enough and looked strong enough and put himself up for selection that way, I would play him before then.

"But at the moment, it is looking unlikely just because of the work he has missed."

Barton has not played for his club since the 2-0 home defeat by Chelsea on May 5 with the terms of his bail conditions preventing him from taking part in the final game of the season at Everton.

He tried to maintain fitness during his spell behind bars, but returned to Newcastle well short of what is required as he waited to discover if he would be given a second chance.

But if the £5.8million man's presence at the Hull game could be merely as a spectator, striker Mark Viduka and defender Claudio Cacapa will see the fixture as a target as they continue their own comeback bids.

Viduka had an injection in a troublesome Achilles injury during the summer, while Cacapa was taken out of the firing line before last weekend's trip to Manchester United because of a hamstring niggle.

Keegan, who has Michael Owen back from illness and injury for today's meeting with Bolton, said: "Mark Viduka will probably be a couple of weeks still because, unlike Michael Owen, he missed the end of last season as well and, unlike Michael, he has had an injection in his Achilles.

"It will be a little bit longer for him, but he is close. He came back into training two days this week and was absolutely outstanding, so it won't be long.

"Claudio Cacapa has not trained with us. I was going to involve him at Old Trafford, maybe play him, but on the Friday he just tweaked his hamstring.

"But he is not far off being fit again because it didn't go, he just got a warning. He had had one the week before, so we just eased back on it.

"I would say another two weeks and he will be back."