Signs of peace in Joey Barton's Twitter row with Newcastle

Barton looked certain to leave the Magpies this summer after he was made available on a free transfer in response to his continued criticism of the club on Twitter.

The relationship between both parties seemed to then break down further when the 28-year-old responded by tweeting quotes from the likes of George Washington and George Orwell to underline his displeasure and on Tuesday was forced to train alone.

However, after being allowed to train with the reserve team this morning, manager Alan Pardew revealed he harboured hopes of resolving the dispute and keeping hold of the player.

"I've never closed the door on anyone and I'm not closing the door on Joey," he said at a press conference. "He trained with the development team today and, who knows, he may train with the first team soon. Joey is a great player and you want great players in your team.

"It's very important as a football club that you are all pulling in the same direction. Joey is not pulling in the same direction.

"That's not to say that can't change in a short period of time. I'm still reflecting on the situation, as is Joey at this present time, on how best to resolve this issue."

Barton revealed his own apparent hopes of a reconciliation, ironically on his Twitter page, when he made reference to world-renowned bridge builder Isambard Kingdom Brunel. "Does anybody have Isambard Kingdom Brunel's number?" he wrote.

The midfielder also hinted he could bring an end to his recent Twitter criticisms, by then adding: "QOTD: Silence is the mother of truth - Benjamin Disraeli."

Barton's star - if not temperamental - quality was underlined by the fact his agent Willie McKay apparently fielded a number of inquiries after Newcastle made him available. Clubs such as Arsenal and Tottenham were linked, while big-spending Paris St Germain and Fiorentina, who the Magpies face in a friendly tomorrow, were mentioned as possible destinations.

Pardew believes the matter could easily have been averted but for Twitter, and has called on the Premier League to provide guidelines on how players should use the social networking site. "Maybe if it wasn't for Twitter and this instant media it may have got resolved on Monday morning with me and Joey in my office," he added.

"The problem with Twitter - we need to get a hold of this. We have got nothing from the Premier League on how to deal with this."

Meanwhile, Newcastle were told they had little hope of succeeding in a bid for midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta. Barnetta's British representative, Barry McIntosh, told the club they had "no hope in hell" of luring the Bayer Leverkusen winger after claiming they had offered him wages of 40,000 per week.