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Keegan to stick with scrapper Barton

July 27, 2008

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan says he’s going to offer jailed midfielder Joey Barton a second chance at Newcastle United.

Barton is expected to be let out of jail next week, serving part of a 6 month sentence for an assault outside a Liverpool branch of McDonalds.

Keegan spoke in support of Barton:

People have opinions, and you must respect those, but mine is to give him another chance and back him.

There are a lot of things he needs to put right - but I think he can do it.

In addition to his current sentence, Barton also has a suspended sentence hanging over him for an assault on a former teammate while at Manchester City.

Joey will be back with us towards the end of this month.

It’s well documented he’s had his problems, but I knew of them when I took over. He’s served his sentence, he’s been punished for what he did wrong.

The world is littered with people that have been given a second chance and taken it with both hands.

I told him as long as from now on he did things right and started to rebuild the confidence of people around him, I would stick by him.

The Joey Barton that we had in the last couple of months of the season was a much-changed character.

I’m hoping that he’ll come back and we’ll get him fit. It’s up to Joey to put things right now - he’s got to win over a lot of people.

Many of the Newcastle fans however are no so much in support of Barton. He will face a lot of stick from his home support, never mind the abuse he’ll face at away games. Barton needs to put in some great performances on the pitch now if he’s to put all of this behind him.

Written by Roy · Filed Under Newcastle 


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