Keegan pledges to back Barton at hearing

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has pledged to make a personal plea to the Football Association (FA) when Joey Barton faces the governing body’s disciplinary chiefs next month.

The 25-year-old England midfielder will appear before the FA on September 5 after admitting a charge of violent conduct towards former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

Barton received a four-month suspended sentence for assaulting Dabo and has spent 74 days in jail after being sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for assault and affray for a separate incident.

But Keegan believes Barton should be given another chance.

“I will appear personally at the hearing if required. Definitely,” said Keegan. “I supported him at court – so why am I not going to do it at the FA?

“For me it is the same thing. If you support someone you support them.

“If you believe they have turned a corner you believe they have turned a corner.

“If you believe that then what is wrong with saying it? So I will just support him 100 percent.

“I know a lot of people don’t agree with me. I have had lots of letters and I have seen all the postbags.

“It is for me to make that decision on Barton and I have made what I think is the right decision.”