Danny Guthrie can only get stronger in new position

Mar 12 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“He is a little bit different from the other midfielders and he is certainly a creative type. We have told him he is capable of adding goals to his games and he did that last weekend with two.”

Indeed Guthrie’s form has been so good that it has taken the pressure off Joey Barton’s long-awaited United comeback.

The combative midfielder is nearing a first-team return and played 45 minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hibernian – but Hughton continues to handle the one-time England man with kid gloves.

The United boss has not written off the possibility of Barton playing before the end of the campaign but he clearly wants him to be fully up to speed before throwing him into action after a near six-month absence with a broken bone in his foot.

“It is not a case of waiting till August,” Hughton said. “I am quite sure that when he is fit and when he feels he is match-fit he will certainly be making himself available. We have another reserve game next week and we will make a decision whether to play him in that game.

“A fit Joey Barton is a very good player and there is no doubt he will be champing at the bit – anyone who has been out for four months would find it a very frustrating period.

“But would he be playing if he was fit? That would be gauged week to week. First and foremost what he has to do is reach a level of fitness. He has only played 45 minutes for the reserves and he needs to get more games under his belt.”

Hughton says that Barton himself recognises the need to play more games before he can be considered for Championship action. “We don’t really have to rein him in,” he said. “He is clever enough to know what the situation is and how well the players have been playing.”