Joey Barton will have to wait before making a return to the Newcastle side according to his therapist.

The England midfielder is currently being treated at Tony Adams' Sporting Chance Clinic in Hertfordshire following his arrest on an assault charge over Christmas and a subsequent stay in prison over the New Year.

The 25-year-old is being treated at the exclusive clinic in a bid to help him turn over a new leaf and therapist Peter Kay envisages a lengthy rehabilitation process.

Kay told The Guardian: "Until the 16th of January [the date of Barton's next appearance in court], Joey will be with me 24 hours a day.

"As for him playing, it will not be happening in the near future. There are bail guidelines we are adhering to and we're concentrating on the work we need to do, which is going well."

While Newcastle are keen to maintain Barton's fitness levels within the confines of his bail conditions, Kay is focusing on improving the controversial player's mental, rather than physical, condition.

He added: "We do not play keepy-uppy in the garden; we do work of a different nature.

"We are getting on with the work we need to do, which is separate from football, and I could not hope for anything better than what is happening."

Barton was remanded in custody after he was allegedly involved in an early morning altercation outside a McDonald's restaurant in Liverpool city centre on December 27.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport