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Barton Desperate To Face Boyhood Club
Written by Newcastle Utd
Merseyside-born Joey Barton admits game against Everton is among his most eagerly-anticipated matches of the season
By Dan King
Joey Barton is desperate to face Everton, the side he supported as a boy, on Saturday after missing last weekend's game against Bolton with a thigh injury.
The Huyton-born star is rated at 50-50 to be fit to face The Toffees, and admits that it's a match he is eager to be part of having followed The Blues since the mid-1990s.
He spoke to the club's official matchday programme for Saturday's game and revealed: "I'm a boyhood Everton fan so this is always one of the games I look for in the fixture list.
"I think they're a better side than their league position suggests, but the league's been a bit higgledy piggledy this year. Teams are winning at places they shouldn't win and it's been quite a strange league to be a part of. Everton find themselves in a relatively difficult position after having such a good season last time out and it's down to them to get themselves out of it, but I think they'll have more than enough quality to avoid getting sucked into a dogfight.
"We played well at their place in September so it would be nice to follow that up with a home victory. Your home form's crucial and I think that's one of the areas where we can really improve if we want to push on and be successful this season."
Barton is the focus of the programme's popular The World According To... and also offers a fascinating insight into his life and loves off the pitch.
The programme is available from outlets around St. James' Park, the Club Store at the stadium and The Back Page bookshop on St. Andrews Street. Copies can also be ordered online here.