Keegan believes Barton finally won over the fans – not to mention his team-mates – in the late-season run which safeguarded the Magpies' Premier League status.

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Barton won't feature in Newcastle's final game of the season at Everton on Sunday as his bail conditions prevent him visiting his native Liverpool.

The 25-year-old's absence will be a blow to his manager, with Keegan having named Barton in his last eight starting line-ups.

Barton's Tyneside career could not have got off to a more frustrating start, with the midfielder – signed from Manchester City last summer – breaking his foot in pre-season and missing the first two months of the campaign.

On his return he then struggled to find any kind of form, and only in the past couple of months has Barton started to look anything like a £5.8m player.

While admitting Barton's troubles are "of his own making", Keegan says has still been impressed with the way his former City charge has been able to focus on his football with so much else happening in his life.

Keegan said: "Joey can be really pleased with his performances and the way he's handled a tough situation.

"Only those close to him know how tough it's been. It's of his own making, of course, and he's got to go to the courts in the summer, but what he has done here is win over the fans. He's certainly won over a lot of his team-mates, who didn't know quite what he was like before."