Joey Barton

Joey Barton has no regrets about swapping Manchester City for Newcastle, despite seeing his former employers at the top of the Premier League.

The midfield dynamo has seen the start to his Newcastle career delayed by an injury he picked up in pre-season.

While watching from the sidelines, Barton has seen his old club City move to the top of the Premier League after recording three wins out of three.

Barton wishes his former employers well, but insists he is focusing all his efforts on getting back fit for Newcastle.

“I want City to do well,” Barton told Sky Sports News. “I still have got a lot of friends at club and people there who helped me get to the position I’m in.

“Of course I want Manchester City to do well.

“In an ideal world City would finish second and Newcastle win the league.

“It is early days, three games gone and I have heard Sven [Goran Eriksson] come out and speak about it.

“It is marathon not a sprint and hopefully City will do well but Newcastle do just that little bit better.”