No Setback For Barton Recovery
By Tyne-Talk
February 16 2010
Injured midfielder Joey Barton will not be rushing to return to action after an operation on his foot last year. His agent Willie McKay has told The Chronicle that he expects his client to return by the end of February, but denied there had been a setback in his recovery.
Barton has been absent from the side since last September and was due to return to full training in January of this year, however bad weather forced his training regime to take place indoors rather than on the training pitch.
McKay said;
"Joey can't wait to be involved again. He's had no setback but he has rushed back before for the team and ended up being injured again.
There's no need for him to rush - he said to me he will be back in February at some point and nothing has changed.
When he does come back it will be like having a new signing for Newcastle.
He's keen to play his part and, with his experience at Premier League level, he can be a real asset to Newcastle in the run-in. Joey loves Newcastle and he is desperate to play a part in taking them back to the top."
Prior to last week's defeat at Pride Park, manager Chris Hughton commented on Joey returning to training. He told the Telegraph;
"He will be back training this week but the problem is that he has missed a lot of football and when you have been out for as long as he has, the reality is you don't know when he will be back. He will come back into training and normally it will take a few weeks to get him up to speed, the pace of the training, and then of course, going into a game situation is completely different.
So regarding his comeback, we do not know but he is back in training this week and we expect another three weeks after that and then we will assess him.
The most important thing is to get him fit and to a stage where he is available. If he can play some part this season, then it is certainly better than not having him at all."
He added;
"Am I satisfied that he is mentally okay now? Yes. Over the period of time he has been here and injured for four months, it is a difficult period for anyone when you are out, it is very frustrating and everything that goes with it but he has handled it okay and he will certainly be looking to get back.
Is he more settled? For the majority of the time he has been here, we have had no problems with Joey. He has been very good and very focused. We expect that to continue."
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I love Nolans attitude but he is treading water at the moment and either needs a rest or moved up front to challenge Carroll.
If Barton can stay fit I think it will be like a new signing and what we need at this moment at time. I dont agree with what has went on in the past with the lad but he is our player and we are paying his wages. If he helps us grab promotion then Im all for it.
a nothing peice, given the source, in my opinion.
Quote from Hughton support what he is saying.....suggest he will be assessed at the end of Feb and wont be rushing him
some of mckays players have included:
bernard
distin
nzogbia
chimbonda
and countless others who he has moved around as often as possible simply to earn a cut of the regular transfer fees/new contracts.
cant help but be suspicious when he talks to the papers about another on of his players, who for a long time he was able to move into and out of nufc at will. ask freddie shepherd why that is, as only he knows best...
parasite
put his name in wikipedia. there are articles involving him with every dodgy player, club, and manager in english and scottish football.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:17:11:44:54 by lostmekeys.
His mouth is moving.
Can't trust anyone who represents that many Frenchmen, anyway!
Quote:Biffins Bridge
If it was a choice between a fit Barton or Nolan pulling the strings in CM it would be Barton.
I'd like to see a Barton/Guthrie pairing in the middle. Both of them tackle hard and have good vision. Both of them can put a 25 yard shot and put in upper 90. More importantly, unlike Smith and Nolan, both of them can play Box-to-Box and not look off the pace.
The issues with Barton has always been, and will always be, attitude and durability.
Smith has been great but is off the pace in the premiership and Nolan will struglle with his lack of pace as well, the pairing of Guthrie and Barton would be better, and are we going to have the cash to find a better player to replace Smith or Barton. I doubt it.
If he can get himself fit, and he can get a decent run out before the season ends then we can access him, if he hasn't changed get rid regardless of what we get.
