Irish international, Stephen Ward, has welcomed the opportunity of Joey Barton returning to Burnley following a disastrous spell at Rangers.
The English midfielder migrates south to be brought under the wing of Sean Dyche for their second spell together. Barton was instrumental for the Clarets as they secured promotion back to the Premier League last summer. So much so that he was named in the Championship team of the year. The following season Barton opted to ply his trade at the Ibrox but ultimately had as pleasant a time in Glasgow as a Celtic fan in the Louden Tavern.
The divisive figure played only eight games for Rangers despite signing a two-year deal with the club. Following a confrontation with Mark Warburton, Barton's contract was terminated in November.
Ward views the arrival of Barton as a major boost for the club in their bid for survival, despite his history of disobedience. Speaking to Newstalk's Off The Ball last night;
Since he's come back in, it doesn't look like he's been away. [He's] back to his old self really and been training well the last couple of days.
If you ask any of the lads, I don't know if we'd have got promoted without signing him to be honest with you. He was a real leader and pushed everyone over the line.
He's one of these lads, he has his opinion and he likes a good debate here and there but he's brand new since he's been in and I don't think any of our lads at our place would have a bad word to say about him.
When Joey Barton revealed to BBC Sport in December that he was back in the player's Whatsapp group, it all but confirmed the signing. However, according to Ward the group chat was Joey Barton-less as soon as he departed Lancashire;
No, he did leave it for a while. He said his goodbyes when he went to Rangers and he swiftly got back in it when he got back into training with us a couple of weeks back.
