MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 22:03:37| >> :600:98300:98300:

Sean Dyche coy on Joey Barton future

Burnley boss Sean Dyche refuses to confirm whether his club will be offering a contract to Joey Barton, who continues to train at Turf Moor.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has refused to confirm whether his club will be offering a contract to Joey Barton.

The controversial midfielder helped Burnley gain promotion to the Premier League last season, but rejected the club's offer of a new contract to make the move to Scottish giants Rangers.

Barton departed Rangers just six months into his two-year deal following a training-ground bust-up with teammate Andy Halliday, however, and has since returned to Burnley in a bid to keep fit.

It had been thought that Dyche wanted to tie the 34-year-old to a short-term contract, but the English manager remained coy when questioned on the midfielder's future.

"He's training with the sports scientists, the same as he was last week," Dyche told reporters. "Because amongst many players I've worked with in my career when they've asked if they could possibly get help, whether that's a phone call or physical help, as in coming to the training, whether it is aftercare where some of the players ask about coaching and whether we can come watch some sessions, speak to the staff.

"I've never had a grudge against any player I've ever worked with and hopefully I've helped a few and if they require my help I'd love to help them. He's just another one of them, it's you [reporters] who make a story beyond that.

"I just think it is a situation that has grown out of necessity for a player who has wanted to come and work and get fit and he knows here he can do that. I'm not suggesting he can't somewhere else but he wanted to do it here and we said yes, of course, come in."

A number of Championship clubs have also been linked with a move for the former Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and Marseille midfielder.

ID:287516: cacheID:287516:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2722:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Joey Barton celebrates with teammates as his deflected free kick goes in for the opening goal during the Championship match between Preston North End and Burnley at Deepdale on April 22, 2016
Read Next:
Joey Barton training with Burnley
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!