So much so, Kevin Keegan dropped the Reserve side entirely during his reign on Tyneside as manager.
Lee Clark: "Sometimes in reserve team football, managers have a problem getting senior players to give their best in the reserves, but that isn't the case for me tonight (for the game against Man City), and I have no worries that the group I have will do the job for me and set a good example.
"With Joey Barton it is important to get him through the game because it is such an important stage for him after injury.
"He has progressed so quickly and the reserves is the last stop before making his return to the first team, so this is huge for him.
"I've got no qualms about Joey - he is one of the most driven and motivated members of the squad.