Wednesday, 12th September, 2012
Joey Barton could make his debut for Marseille in the club’s Europa League clash against Fenerbahce.
The English midfielder, who is on a season-long loan at the Stade Velodrome from Premier League side Queens Park Rangers, is serving a 12-match ban, which followed him across to France.
And that means the earliest Barton can play in Ligue 1 with his new club is 18th November against Bordeaux.
The player’s ban does not apply to European competition however and, with Marseille involved in the Europa League, the hope at the French giants is that the 30-year-old can make his official bow much sooner than mid-November.
To this end, the side’s match against Fenerbahce on 20th September has been targeted as a game Barton could possibly be involved in, although Marseille’s assistant manager has stressed that the midfielder has not trained properly for two months.
"He spent two months without training normally", said Franck Passi.
"Physically, he will need to have a little time.
"But it is possible that he could participate in the Europa League match."
Barton is hoping for a fresh start in Ligue 1 with Elie Baup’s men having endured a troubled time at Loftus Road.
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