Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear has told Joey Barton to start paying off his £5.8million transfer fee after seeing him pave the way for a first win in eight Premier League games.

The former Manchester City midfielder, making his first start for the club since being released from jail for assault, nervelessly converted a ninth-minute penalty to take an important step towards repairing the damage his off-field behaviour has done to the club's reputation.

Kinnear, whose side won 2-1 for their first three-point haul under the interim manager, later revealed Obafemi Martins had been the designated penalty-taker in Michael Owen's absence, but he was delighted Barton took on the responsibility.

The boss said: "He would have been in serious trouble if he hadn't scored from it because Oba Martins was the penalty-taker.

"It's normally Michael Owen, but Joey grabbed it.

"I think he wanted to prove a point. I am really pleased for him. He was bought for more than £5m, so he has got to play up to that price."

Martins headed in to make it 2-0 before Ishmael Miller pulled a goal back after rounding Shay Given.