NEW boy Joey Barton has been welcomed into "Club England" by the same players he poured scorn on earlier in the season.
The candid City midfielder, who criticised the raft of post-World Cup books coming out of the England dressing room, trained with the targets of his acid tongue at Carrington yesterday.
There was no public apology, or a private one - if Barton stuck to his intentions - for stand-in skipper Stevie Gerrard or Chelsea's Frank Lampard but the established international midfielders were more than happy to play down the effects of the 24-year-old's criticism.
Fellow Liverpudlian Gerrard led the search for a feel-good factor. "There are no hard feelings, we'll give him (Barton) the welcome he deserves. His form has been fantastic of late," said the Anfield ace.
"It's great that there are rivals at club level. It shows how strong our league is when players battle every Saturday against each other but there's got to be respect there when we join up for our country. It will be interesting to see his expression when I first see him! I'm going to give him a signed book and he can read that over the next couple of days.
"There are no hard feelings between myself and Joey. The main thing is I am looking forward to working with him because he is my type of player."
Lampard, too, was in no mood to stick the boot into the Three Lions rookie.
"It's an issue that has been blown up in the media," said the Chelsea midfielder.
"There is no problem. We are an England squad and we are all professional. Everyone who comes in has to fit in; that is the important thing."
Barton had pulled no punches in his assessment of his midfield rivals' efforts in Germany last summer.
"England did nothing at the World Cup, so why were they bringing books out? `We got beat in the quarter finals, I played s***, here's my book'. Who wants to read that? I don't," was the City man's not-so-subtle shot across the bows of the men whose place he would like to take.
Does Joey Barton deserve his England place? Have your say.
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THESE STORYS ARE BORING THE PANTS OFF ME , DOES ANYONE ELSE REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS NON IMPORTANT FRIENDLY !!!!!!!
Hope Joey gets a run out and plays well. He'll be off in the summer coz Wardle and Co have got no ambition - a good game tonight and we might get ten mill for him.
WHO DAMM WELL CARES I DONT ,NOTHING ON CITY THEN ,WARDLE, TYRELL AND MCKINTOSH ON HOLIDAY ARE THEY ,OR ARE THEY WATCHING SP TRAIN THE U21S.GET REAL MEN
Joey had his opinion, it's his right to say what he thinks. His comments were valid but were said 8 months ago, who cares!
i care a lot about this game! if barton get his first for england it will be smashing. for him and for city! when was the last time we had 2 outfield players in the squad? and another thing: he was right to have a go at gerrard and lampard. i love people who are not always political correct...go joey go!
Just another ''easy'' bit of journalism from MUEN. Where's the interview with Wardle then ?
We will see tomorrow night how good Barton really is. Watch the Ireland match and see Stephen Ireland if you want to see a good City player.
Go on Joey and Micah. Give us something to smile about.
Where is the investor?
if heargreevees is worth 20million then our joey is wirth 40 million he ha smore guts in his play and more patriotism he is english all the way and one hell of a footballer
Its about time Joeys gotten his call up,every time he plays 4 City he gives his all,he wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn´t know when to quiet,giv him the chance and he´ll do wonders for England.GOOD LUCK 2 YA JOEY.
hahahahaha- i cant belive this just looked at steve mclarens starting 11 for the spain game and carrick has been named in the starting line up :S. how is this barton is a trillion times the player carrick is, he can pass better, tackle miles better, and scores god knows how many more goals than carrick.
Has anyone got one or two spare tickets for preston? I will give you double what you paid. Please email mjpsharp@btinternet.com
Good luck Joey lad, just play like all us City fans know you can.