Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has hit out at Joey Barton following the Queens Park Rangers captain's remarks about his former club on Twitter.

Barton recently criticised Newcastle's bonus scheme and called owner Mike Ashley an "Ayatollah" and a "cretin".

"I keep asking myself why does he keep popping up. On his Twitter account? That might be the answer," Pardew commented.

"Unfortunately, Joey's comments take away the positive nature of what we are doing here in terms of the players' performances. They have been absolutely brilliant and I'm not particularly keen on anyone taking the limelight away from them.

"It means nothing really. Why is he doing it? I don't know who is gaining out of it and I don't know what Joey is getting out of it."

Newcastle are currently fourth in the Premier League with 26 points from 13 games.