Joey Barton believes he is currently in the best form of his life after a turbulent career. The 28-year-old Newcastle midfielder has in the past made the headlines for the wrong reasons but has made a fantastic start to the season with the Magpies.
The former Manchester City man has been involved in training-ground spats, has been arrested, and suffered a broken foot at the start of his Newcastle career, but feels he is now enjoying his best patch.
"For me this is the best period of my career," he told the Newcastle Chronicle. "Nobody expected me to still be playing at the top level.
"People have had problems in football, but have been through nowhere near as much as I put myself through. But they never came back from it.
"Ideally I didn't want to go through what I did, but I always had a great belief in my ability.
"I've said numerous times how good I believed I was."
Barton went on to praise boss Chris Hughton, who has yet to earn a new contract at St James' Park, and believes there is strength in depth at the club.
"This team here has given me the opportunity to facilitate it and so has Chrissy Hughton," he added.
"He's seen something in me and he believes, as he does with all the other players.
"We've got a good squad. Our reserves are full of young kids and we haven't got a massive squad. But what we have got is quality. "Anyone on the bench at Arsenal could have gone in and turned in a performance. It's not just about the XI.
"It's the 17 players on a match day and it's about everybody in the squad who isn't playing.
"That quality from the 17 or 18."
