ESPNsoccernet: England

Newcastle have confirmed that Joey Barton has fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot and is expected to be out for around eight weeks.

Barton, who will undergo surgery, suffered the injury while playing against his former club Manchester City and his frustration was immediately clear when he hurled one of his boots to the ground as he made his way back to the dressing room at Eastlands.

The club are also expecting an update on how long Michael Owen might be out for with the England striker due to have a scan on his injured ankle.

The injuries came as a double blow to Magpies boss Joe Kinnear who said last night: "It is one thing after another and life is seriously tough at the moment.''

The Newcastle boss has little room to manoeuvre in the transfer market either after revealing the full extent of owner Mike Ashley's losses during the current financial turmoil.

"The credit crunch is killing us,'' said Kinnear. "(Owner) Mike (Ashley) has lost two billion quid in his own businesses and shares. He is just about paying the wages but it is not an easy situation.

"You look at Tottenham paying £16million here and £14million there. I would love to spend money like that but I can't. You can see why so many people bottled this job.''