QPR midfielder Joey Barton is surprised not to have been given a squad number for the new season.

The 29-year-old's future with the west Londoners has been the subject of much debate this summer after he was stripped of the captaincy and given a 12-match FA ban for his red card and subsequent conduct on the final day of last season at Manchester City.

Upon finding out his old number 17 shirt was given to summer signing Ryan Nelsen, he posted: "Heard my shirt numbers gone to someone else. News to me..."

"Just come off the golf course so only just heard. A call would of [sic] been nice. Ah, well life goes on..."