Joey Barton still has the threat of a jail term hanging over him, but the troubled star can at least forget about his problems on the football pitch for a while. Luke Edwards reports IF it was not for the dedication and support of the staff at the Sporting Chance clinic in Hampshire, the only way Joey Barton was likely to have appeared in a Newcastle shirt again this season was if he wore one during a prison yard kick-about. Given the strict conditions of his initial bail, which required him to obey a 7pm curfew at the Sporting Chance headquarters, it was unlikely Barton would have been seen in the Premier League for months. But, thanks to the work done by the clinic staff and the pleas on his behalf from Newcastle United last week, Barton has been given permission to resume his football career against Arsenal tonight. It will be the first time the £5.8m signing from Manchester City has been involved in a competitive game since the 2-2 draw with Derby on December 23 and it is doubtful he has ever been happier to see his name on the team sheet. There is probably not a more daunting challenge in English football than a trip to the home of the swaggering Gunners, but it is one Barton will be thrilled to accept because of the turmoil in his life since Christmas. An Arsenal side in full flight is a scary sight, but it is nothing to what might have scared Barton in prison had the charity not agreed to take him in last month. Whatever happens in north London tonight, Barton will just be thankful he is watching the game from the substitute’s bench rather than on a television set in his cell. “Common sense has prevailed, he is still restricted, but can train with us and play matches,” said Keegan, who confirmed he will name Barton among his substitutes tonight. “He went to court last Friday, I didn't personally go because we had a game, but we wrote letters, explaining what we felt. The judge decided this was the right compromise, the right way to handle it. Everything is pretty much the same except that he can play.” Barton, who is still under a curfew unless he is playing a game for Newcastle, has also been given permission to move back to the North-East, although he will not be able to play in the away games against Everton and Liverpool, as he is still prevented from visiting Liverpool city centre under his new bail regulations. Barton, of course, still has plenty to worry about. He has two court cases pending regarding two charges of assault following two separate incidents last year. If found guilty of one or both, Barton can expect a jail sentence and his football career will suffer accordingly. Footballers have gone to prison before – Tony Adams, the man who set up the Sporting Chance charity to help professional sportsmen and women deal with their problems off the pitch, being the most obvious example – and recovered. But at 27 and with an unenviable reputation as one of English football’s perennial bad boys, the damage to Barton’s career at the top level could be irreparable. That, though, is a future battle and in Keegan, Barton has at least been reunited with a manager who perhaps cares more than any other about the welfare and well-being of his players. Nevertheless, Keegan has been here before as manager at Manchester City. It was Keegan who helped guide Barton from the Academy to the Premier League at Eastlands and it was Keegan who became the first manager to try to deal with his anger management problems, both on and off the pitch. “He knows the score,” added Keegan. “He has had some terrific help and now he has to prove that help works over a period of time and not just say it. That is the challenge to Joey and that is why we have to help him. I do not have any problems with it. Joey is very good about it, I think we will see a new Joey Barton at the end of this. “Sometimes people have to go where he has been to realise what he has got and what they might not have. I think he has realised that but, again, and I have said this to Joey, it is down to him now. “He will have to be mentally tough but we are there to help him. We cannot do any more than that. His football has to do his talking now. “I have always helped players. I have helped Joey before. “I think this time, I said to Joey I would back him 100%, that is the promise I made to him the first day I came in and that is what I am going to do. “The club will gain from that and hopefully Joey as well.” | 
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