Barton has not played for Glasgow Rangers since being suspended in the wake of the club’s Old Firm defeat in September.
In an incredible turn of events, Rangers have confirmed on their official website that Joey Barton will return to training once the current disciplinary procedure into his conduct has concluded.
It had appeared that the 34-year-old was destined to leave Ibrox in the near future after he was suspended in the wake of the Old Firm defeat that Mark Warburton’s men suffered in September following a training ground altercation with Andy Halliday (via The Scottish Sun).
Rangers’ Joey Barton
After the initial suspension of three weeks was extended and a meeting between the player and the club at the end of October appeared to fail to reach a resolution, The Scottish Sun suggested that he was highly unlikely to play for Rangers ever again.
However, the club have now confirmed in a statement on their official website that they expect Barton to be back in training once the procedures are complete.
Rangers manager Mark Warburton
Whether this latest development means that Barton will ever return to Warburton’s side remains to be seen, but it is undoubtedly an important moment for the club as a compromise appears to have been reached.
The situation had arguably left a dark cloud over Ibrox in recent weeks as so many questions remained unanswered. And while it remains to be seen whether Barton is able to re-integrate back into the team or whether he does still have a future with the Gers, it appears that a conclusion to the saga may now not be too far away.
Could Barton now make a return to the Rangers team?
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