“The manager knows I haven’t been 100% fit these last few games, but he has asked me to do a job and I’m happy to do that.
“I’ve missed one game through suspension and I want to be involved in every single one of the 11 that our left.” It says much about his enduring celebrity that few players have been talked about more in recent weeks than Barton. Considering he only played six games before foot surgery – and was dropped from the starting line-up before the first at West Brom following a row with Chris Hughton – Barton has been a periphery figure. Some would argue that has been a good thing given controversy tends to follow him like rats to the Pied Piper, but Nolan is happy to have him back, both as a team-mate and a rival.
“Everyone knows what Joey is like, although you probably know more than me about the past,” he said.
“He is a good lad and it’s going to take him another week or so to get back, but it looks like we are going to have him for the final push and that’s great.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating for him, it always is when you’re injured for four or five months. It takes its toil on you, sitting on the sidelines watching the lads playing and preparing for games.
“He is desperate to be involved again and we can’t wait to have him back. He played a big part at the start of the season when are backs were against the wall to an extent and he can have a big part to play in the run in as well.
“We’re not going to make it easy for him to get back in, but I’m sure when he does get back he’ll stay there. We’ve got to keep producing good performances and results, it’s only good and positive for us that we’ve got the lads coming back.”
Where there were once negatives, there are only positives at Newcastle United, even when Barton is concerned.
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