Reports emerged after Newcastle's victory over Villa on Monday alleging that Barton made a racist comment during a confrontation involving the pair following a first-half foul.

Agbonlahor told Villa he did not want them to pursue the matter with the Football Association, with the governing body then deciding to leave the matter.

And the England Under-21 striker said: "It happened and you try to forget about it.

"At the time, I wasn't very happy, but he has had enough bad press so I decided to leave it.

"The club decided they would back me, but I just decided that that is the sort of player he is. I thought I'd just leave it."