QPR midfielder Joey Barton has weighed into the debate over Paul Gascoigne's health.

Gascoigne was admitted to an intensive care unit over the weekend after he suffered complications while receiving treatment for his addiction to alcohol in a clinic in Arizona.

On-loan Marseille midfielder Barton has also experienced troubles related to alcoholism in the past and he today gave a grim assessment of Gascoigne's predicament on Twitter.

"The alcohol abuse will kill him," Barton posted on the site.

"The prescription drug addiction and the addiction to the limelight and not having it anymore, r major issue(s).

"If those well meaning souls get this wrong he will be dead within the year. That's the reality. All thise (sic) that have tried to love/help him... down the years. Have done so with the greatest intentions, not all but some.

"And look at the man now. He needs professional help and the... privacy to recover. Not doing interviews an having the media follow him."