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Butt backing Barton to win over doubters
NICKY Butt believes Newcastle fans will only see the best of Joey Barton next season after witnessing first hand his team-mate's return to form.
The controversial midfielder showed United supporters a rare glimpse of his undoubted talent during the 2-0 home victory over fellow strugglers Fulham at the weekend. It was arguably his finest display for the club since a £5.8m transfer from Manchester City last summer.
Newcastle fans believed Barton could offer the side a commodity largely missing from midfield in recent years - a steely determination combined with a creative attacking outlet.
Unfortunately he has failed to live up to expectations, instead experiencing a troubled time on Tyneside both on and off the pitch.
The 25-year-old arrived at St James' Park with a training ground bust up with former City team-mate Ousmane Dabo hanging over him.
Circumstances then took a turn for the worse on the pitch when he broke a foot during a pre-season friendly at Carlisle which kept him out of action until late October.
When he returned from injury fans have seen largely uninspiring performances, while off the pitch his problems continued, culminating in a charge of common assualt and affray following a night out in Liverpool on Boxing Day.
Butt may not have experienced the tribulations facing Barton outside of football, but he did empathise with difficulties his team-mate has faced since joining his new club.
After spending a season on loan at Birmingham, the former England international turned his Magpies career around, winning over the fans in the process.
Butt believes Barton has the ability to do the same.
"I thought Joey played well against Fulham and showed what a talented footballer he is," said Butt.
"He was a top player at Manchester City, but it has been tough for him here.
"I know how he feels because things didn't go very well for me in my first year here either. I struggled for form and it was a difficult time in my career. It plays on your mind when you are on the pitch and at home.
"But Joey's a good lad, he interacts well with the rest of the squad. People might have an outside perception of what he is like, but he's a good lad.
"However, as much as anyone tries to put a brave face on it, when things aren't going well for you at a new club, it is extremely hard to deal with. You do hear things in the crowd, but the good thing about Joey is that he is strong and he is starting to come through it.
"It's been doubly hard for him because he's had things off the pitch to deal with as well, which I didn't have. All in all I think he's done okay and if, like the rest of us, he can build on his performance against Fulham, then he will be happy.
"He was a good player at Manchester City and there were massive expectations on his shoulders when he came, but he's starting to show what he can do. Like the rest of us, he just needs to get this season out of the way now and then start afresh."
David Rozehnal, meanwhile, is expected to return to Newcastle United at the end of the season.
The Czech Republic international has failed to establish himself at Lazio since his January loan switch and the Rome club won't be taking up the option of signing him permanently.
3:02am Thursday 27th March 2008
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