Keegan: ´Barton Has To Play Somewhere´!

Last updated : 01 September 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Kevin Keegan: "You saw every player that I have got. That was it. That was why I decided to put Joey on the bench. It wasn't to do with anything other than that.

"Joey went on and, for five minutes, did well.

"He is going to have to play somewhere.

"As a manager, you look at the situation when you look around your bench.

"Habib Beye has had an Achilles problem and Jonas (Gutierrez) had run every blade of grass on the pitch. I'm scared of him pulling up like the left-back did.

"So I put Joey on because I looked at my bench and, to be honest with you, if you're doing your job properly he is the next player to put on as opposed to a 16 or 17-year-old kid.

"It was a good tackle. What you're probably saying is: 'Why did he come on and want to go into a tackle?' Because that's his game.

"That is what got Joey at Manchester City into the team and kept him in the team. That's what he does. He tackles.

"Joey has got to get used to that and he's got to win through that.

"I am looking at the team and some of the new players I have got and I'm learning a little bit more about them.

"I think the two Argentinians (Jonas and Fabricio Coloccini) are going to be fantastic players for us - that's a positive - and young (Danny) Guthrie will get better and better.

"I know I have got some good men who care about the club around us.

"We need maybe two or three more. I think we have got a chance to take this club forward (if we get them). Not to where Arsenal are, because that is a big hop, but certainly to where the club should be with the support we get and the resources we have."