 CHRIS HUGHTON has played down the prospect of Joey Barton making a return to action at Bristol City on Saturday night. The battling midfielder played 75 minutes of the reserve game at Hartlepool United on Tuesday and declared himself “ready” for Ashton Gate after the run-out at Victoria Park. However, Hughton hinted that he may need a further second-string appearance before making a return to the fray in the Championship for the first time since September. Hughton told the Chronicle: “I think he will play soon, but Joey’s only had 75 minutes of a reserve game. “We have a lot of competition for places at the moment.” Hughton saw Wayne Routledge take a nasty whack on the side of the leg when he was sandwiched by Grant McCann and giant former Gateshead defender Rob Jones last night. Peter Lovenkrands was also subbed when his muscle injury tightened up again, and Danny Simpson admitted after the game he had suffered a slight recurrence of a hip injury picked up at Middlesbrough. Hughton added: “Wayne’s a high energy player, and what people mustn’t forget is the amount of work he does going back as well. “He’s a very fit lad – he always has been. For a small lad he’s physically strong, as you saw when the centre-half whacked him right in front of us. “That was a hell of a whack, but Wayne’s finished OK.” But while Alan Smith is expected to be ruled out of the trip to Bristol, Hughton said that returning defenders Jose Enrique and dead leg victim Fabricio Coloccini had came through the Scunthorpe game unscathed. He said: “We took Jose off with 15 minutes left as a precaution. “Colo’s come back in, and we were absolutely delighted with him. He’s a real tough individual. “They are all OK.” Shola Ameobi will also rejoin training today after a stint out with a hamstring problem. | 
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