JOEY Barton could be in the home dugout for Oxford United's trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

The Pirates manager missed his side's 0-0 draw with Havant & Waterlooville on Tuesday, having appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court via video link the morning before.

Barton pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting his wife in June, with a trial set to take place on December 16.

The 38-year-old took a few days' leave with his family this week, which saw assistant Clint Hill lead Rovers in Tuesday's friendly, but was back at Rovers' training ground this morning.

Barton's charge relates to an incident at a residential property in Kew, south-west London, on June 2 in which his wife Georgia suffered a head injury.

The 38-year-old is accused of grabbing her by the throat and kicking her in the head at a gathering.

Hill said all staff and players could do is focus on their jobs at a difficult time.

"Listen, is it nice? No, of course it isn’t nice," he told Bristol Live.

"But as a group, we spoke to them before the game and I said I can’t fault their application, attitude and desire since they’ve come into this building for pre-season.

"We’re ready to go. We’re professionals, we do a job and that’s what we’re paid to do.

"We’ve got to ignore the noise and only concentrate on what’s going on in the dressing room.

"As long as we stay together, we’ll be OK."

United's visit to Rovers (1pm) is home fans only, with Karl Robinson's side set to play an additional friendly at their training ground next Tuesday.