Burnley manager Sean Dyche says he would allow Joey Barton to train with the team following his controversial exit from Rangers.
Barton, 34, had his contract with Burnley terminated earlier this month after engaging in a war of words with some of the players and manager Mark Warburton following their 5-1 defeat to Celtic in September.
The controversial midfielder played a pivotal part in Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League last season and surprisingly turned down the chance to stay with the club in order to move to Rangers over the summer.
Barton let his talking happen on the pitch in the Championship last season and Burnley manager Dyche insists he would have no problem with their former midfielder returning to the club to build up his fitness.
“If he [Barton] felt he needs a base to get fit or whatever, I’d listen. Beyond that, that would be it,” Sky Sports quote Dyche as saying. “The rest of it is for the future.”
“I’ve helped many players out, not just me but my staff too, and when I was at Watford. Young players, old players managers too.
“If Joey requires our support, he’ll get that. If he doesn’t, he’ll move forward to wherever he’s going to. He did great for us, beyond that is the indefinable. There’s many players you think can do well in the Premier League, but they don’t always work out.”
Barton started 37 of Burnley’s 46 league matches last season and only Matthew Lowton (7.31) finished with a higher rating than the out-of-contract midfielder (7.30).
For more stats on Joey Barton, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
