Turn-up for the Toon as Barton is given the go-ahead to face Arsenal

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Representatives from Sporting Chance and Newcastle convinced a High Court judge to change the curfew restrictions which required the one-time England midfielder to stay at a retreat in Hampshire.

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Barton, who faces charges of actual bodily harm and affray in Liverpool city centre, missed Saturday's FA Cup tie at Arsenal because he had to return to his base by 7.30pm, although he has been travelling to Tyneside by helicopter every day to train. But his lawyers have successfully changed those conditions so Barton can now live and train in Newcastle.

He can play in away games and night matches, providing he adheres to a new curfew.

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan gave Barton his debut at Manchester City and the pair have had their run-ins, but he has vowed to stand by Barton, signed in a £6million summer deal.

Keegan said: 'Common sense has prevailed. He's still restricted but he can train with us and play matches. The judge decided this was the right compromise, the right way to handle it. Everything is pretty much the same except that he can play.'

Barton has trained well with his Newcastle team-mates since returning to the fold, having spent a week in a Liverpool prison over New Year.

The former City midfielder has now missed the last eight games, including Saturday's defeat at the Emirates Stadium, but Keegan is convinced that he has already learned his lesson.

He said: 'I think we'll see a new Joey Barton at the end of this.

'Sometimes people have to go where he has been to realise what they've got and what they might not have. I've said this to Joey and it's down to him now.

'I've always helped players. I've helped Joey before and I told him I would back him 100 per cent. That's the promise I made to him the first day I came in and that's what I'm going to do.

'The club will gain from that and hopefully Joey will as well. He's here and therefore, like every other player, we'll do everything we can to get him to the best level so he can go on the pitch and produce what he's capable of.

'He knows the score. He has had terrific help and now has to prove that help works over a period of time and not just say it. That's the challenge to Joey and that is why we have to help him.'