Joey Barton is back in the Premier League.
What was confirmed in the media this week was known for some time by Sean Dyche and his first team squad at Burnley as he has been training and essentially doing another pre-season with the club for weeks now. That was revealed by Ireland international Stephen Ward, as he spoke to Off The Ball on Wednesday night.
Kevin Kilbane was in studio for The Football Show, so naturally they discussed the life of a converted left-back, but the former Sunderland and Everton man also told of chat with Joey Barton while doing some punditry.
Kilbane revealed that Barton believed Stephen Ward being picked at left-back gave the team a new dimension which saw Burnley improve and surge up the table.
I was doing a show with him Stephen, over on the BBC, I think it was MOTD2, and he was very complimentary of you in particular because he was saying how the team changed when you came into the side at the back end of last season.
You brought a different dimension, because Ben Mee was playing left back wasn't he? And you came in took that spot and the team changed around you coming into the side, and in many respects that was how you went on and got promoted.
And I'm not just saying that to you Wardy, he genuinely did say it.
Very nice words indeed, and Ward's response was excellent.
He said it to me one night, but he'd had a few drinks on him after we got promoted so I didn't know if he was telling the truth.
Barton's presence at Burnley will no doubt bring an extra level of media focus on the club now that he has returned, but this is not a problem for any of the playing staff as Ward explained that he was never a problem at any stage during last season, so he was welcomed back with open arms.
If I'm being honest, a lof of people have asked me the same question, and I don't know if it was because last year we were doing quite well he didn't have too much to say, but there was no trouble whatsoever, he was great.
He was great around the changing room, he was a real leader, to be honest if you ask any of the lads, I don't know if we'd have gotten promoted without signing him.
Returning the compliment there, a nice touch.
It sounds like everyone involved with Burnley is delighted to have him back, and we're delighted to see Stephen Ward get the credit he deserves, something we've been eager to see for some time.
You can listen to Ward's interview on Off The Ball below:
