To bastardise (copyright Joe “f***ing” Kinnear) an old joke, if Joey Barton is the answer, it must be a very peculiar question, but Newcastle United’s interim manager has identified the contentious midfield player as a vital cog in the club’s attempt to improve their depressed league position. Barton is suspended for two more matches, but Kinnear is already looking forward to his return to the team.

After greeting his players for the first time last weekend, Kinnear immediately expressed his concern at Newcastle’s “quiet dressing-room”. The chaotic nature of recent events at St James’ Park and Newcastle’s place near the foot of the Barclays Premier League requires leadership and character, which the Irishman hopes Barton will provide.

The notion of Barton being entrusted with responsibility after so recently serving a prison sentence for common assault and affray – his present ban was connected with an earlier offence – will not sit comfortably with many. In mitigation, the 26-year-old has not touched alcohol this year and Kevin Keegan, the former Newcastle manager, spoke regularly of him as a model professional.

“We need somebody to be ranting and screaming information – and information has to come out on the pitch,” Kinnear said. “We don’t have that at the moment. I imagine when Joey Barton comes back that might change – he’s a chirpy lad with things to say and he might improve things on the communication front. We certainly need people who are going to express themselves and sort things out, because you can’t always do it from the touchline.”

Kinnear suggested that Barton would have thrived in his rugged Wimbledon side in the 1990s. “Joey Barton, without a doubt, is one who would be in the Crazy Gang for the simple fact that he’s crazy,” he said. “He is very infectious, just like Danny Guthrie. They whizz in and out. Nicky Butt is the same and we have some really good characters in the dressing-room.”

Kinnear’s comments may serve to encourage the siege mentality that is being nurtured on Tyneside. The Newcastle hierarchy are not displeased with the furore that greeted Kinnear’s expletive-strewn press conference on Thursday and believe it could rally support behind a club who have imploded since Keegan’s resignation last month.

Newcastle are investigating whether they can overturn the second game of Kinnear’s two-match suspension from the touchline before they face Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow. While the FA has said that the

ban must be served in full, Newcastle believe Kinnear’s punishment, which is four years old, makes specific reference to Nottingham Forest.

While the team need all the assistance they can muster, supporters will not be deflected from their campaign to boycott official club merchandise while Mike Ashley, the present owner, remains in situ. The overall context is one of a club who are up for sale, have no permanent manager, have lost five matches in succession and whose squad is ill-equipped to cope with the rigours of a season.

The expectations of fans have been raised by the public pronouncements of a purported South African consortium, yet their claims have met strong denials from those close to the bidding process. Jonathan Cleland, who is reported to be leading the group, has said that he met Keegan in Manchester on Monday night and, while that may be correct, no formal offer to buy the club has been submitted.

Two prominent British-based South African businessmen who have been linked with the group have ruled out any involvement. A spokesman for Vivian Imerman, the former owner of Del Monte, the food company, confirmed that “he has no involvement whatsoever,” and Johann Rupert, allegedly South Africa’s richest man, said: “These reports have never been true.”