JOEY Barton scored as he played an hour for the reserves as Newcastle United beat Wigan Athletic 3-1 at Kingston Park last night.

Due to injury the 25-year-old is yet to make his senior bow for the Magpies but, having come through this game unscathed, could do so when Tottenham travel to Tyneside in a fortnight.

Having also played 45 minutes for the reserves against Manchester City last week, this was was his second comeback game after recovering from a fractured metatarsal.

It was Barton who broke the deadlock after 19 minutes as Wigan failed to clear Jonny Godsmark's right-wing centre, allowing the midfield star to volley home from close range.

The former Man. City man had earlier gone close with a far post strike from Matty Pattison's flag-kick which whistled over goalkeeper Mike Pollitt's crossbar.

Lee Clark's side doubled their advantage through Frank Wiafe Danquah just after the half hour, the Dutch striker converting from close range after Mark Doninger got away down the left before squaring for his team-mate.

And Newcastle put the game out of sight three minutes before the break, Pattison's left-footed strike from the edge of the area deflecting off full-back Moore and past a despairing Pollitt.

Chris McCaughtrie pulled one back for the visitors late on.

Newcastle: Forster, Bertram, Lough, Doninger, Grieve, Morris, LuaLua, Pattison, Wiafe Danquah, Barton (Marwood 65mins), Godsmark. Subs (not used): Wrightson, Patterson, McLaughlin, Henderson.