@yourservice 67 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 (edited) EXCLUSIVE Toon star faces Arsenal before helicopter dash to beat curfew By Simon Bird 24/01/2008 Kevin Keegan plans to hand Joey Barton a shock curfew-beating recall at Arsenal on Saturday. The Newcastle boss is ready to name the troubled Toon star in his squad for the FA Cup clash with the Gunners - and then helicopter him back to Hampshire in time to beat his 7pm curfew. Keegan said: "We've got lads to come back for Arsenal, and I'm looking forward to Joey Barton getting back as well." Barton has not played since before Christmas and appears in court in March on an assault charge. He has been training with his team-mates, however, using a chopper to fly to and from Tyneside. Advertisement Scouser Barton spent a week in jail on remand over New Year following an incident in Liverpool, and bail conditions mean the 25-year-old is unable to play at St James' Park and make it back in time for his early evening deadline. But the former Manchester City star, who has kept up a strict fitness regime in addition to regular training stints with the squad, is set to figure in the fourth round Emirates Stadium clash, which kicks off at 3pm. It will see Barton dash to a nearby helipad after the match to fly to the exclusive Champneys health spa in Hampshire. He is receiving help there for problems with alcohol under the guidance of Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic. Keegan, who admits Barton let him down during their time together at City, has held talks with the outspoken England international. Chairman Chris Mort first raised the possibility of Barton facing the Gunners, and Keegan is willing to give the wayward star another chance. Barton is also expected to take part in Newcastle's home derby match with Middlesbrough the following weekend, because the 1.30pm kick-off then leaves him enough time to return to Hampshire in time to meet his curfew. Alan Smith and Nicky Butt return from suspension for the clash with Arsene Wenger's men, but with Emre still banned Newcastle need Barton back to bolster their threadbare midfield. Keegan wants to add "three Premier League players" to his squad and is planning a £10million swoop for Jonathan Woodgate. Boro are determined to hang on to their kingpin defender and will tell the Newcastle boss to stop wasting his time. But big-spending Keegan wants to build his new Toon empire around the commanding Boro centre-half, and with a 'bottomless' winter warchest at his disposal he will not take no for an answer. Keegan is confident of out-bidding Spurs, who have a long-held interest in the 28-year-old England defender. As England boss, Keegan handed Woodgate his senior international debut against Bulgaria back in 1999. Edited January 24, 2008 by @yourservice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBass 2815 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Jesus wept, we must be thin on the ground if we're going to all this trouble to play someone who's been shite all season and hasn't played any games for a while! Not that we'll get a result anyway, so I think I'd be tempted to stick a youngun in there for the experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6951 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Jesus wept, we must be thin on the ground if we're going to all this trouble to play someone who's been shite all season and hasn't played any games for a while! Not that we'll get a result anyway, so I think I'd be tempted to stick a youngun in there for the experience. Do we have any young centre mids though??? Butt and Charlie will have to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7320 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Its a fucking hard life for young joey isnt it. Kick the shit out of someone and what do you get, £50k pw, a starting place for newcastle and a helicopter ride back to a health spa after! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 It's not KK's style to just dump someone / piss them off a la Souness. I still think he'll peddle Barton sooner rather than later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney 0 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 He gets enough chances, doesn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Even if he fully intends to get rid it's still worth keeping his stock up, no need to HAVE to take a loss on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6951 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Even if he fully intends to get rid it's still worth keeping his stock up, no need to HAVE to take a loss on him. Money is no object now though - apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Even if he fully intends to get rid it's still worth keeping his stock up, no need to HAVE to take a loss on him. Money is no object now though - apparently. That's almost never true though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Makes sense to get decent money for him if possible regardless of how much money we have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big TRon 0 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 If money truly was no object (which isn't my view) then it would make sense to sack him. Unless Keegan rates him highly enough to think he's worth the effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I wouldn't be play him on a footballing basis anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6951 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I wouldn't be play him on a footballing basis anyway. Bare bones at the minute though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I wouldn't be play him on a footballing basis anyway. Bare bones at the minute though. Would rather have Butt and N'Zogbia in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7320 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Makes sense to get decent money for him if possible regardless of how much money we have. Theres not another premier league manager would touch him with a barge pole now! Wed be lucky to make more than £2mil back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Makes sense to get decent money for him if possible regardless of how much money we have. Theres not another premier league manager would touch him with a barge pole now! Wed be lucky to make more than £2mil back But you might as well get £2m for him as sack him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7320 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thats debatable if it means playing him for 10 games to raise interest in him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thats debatable if it means playing him for 10 games to raise interest in him! The thing is though, Keegan will only play him imo if he's worthy of a place. But the squad's small and there's the players away at the ACN too at the minute. And I think he's a canny player (irrespective of him being a knob), although he's been wank for us. And the central midfield was weak to say the least against Bolton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big TRon 0 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 At the moment he looks like a mediocre player trying to be a good one. He looks comfortable on the ball and moves it through the midfield nicely...but then he fucks up the pass, or gives it to the opposition. Or starts on the opposition. I'd love to see him a good game because he should really boss the midfield if he could get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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