Summary
JOEY Barton has backed "maverick" Jons Gutirrez to continue supplying the bullets for in-form hitmen Leon Best and Peter Lvenkrands. With Newcastle United looking to recruit wide men using the pounds 35 million transfer fund generated by Andy Carroll's departure, the Argentina winger (pictured right) is entering a crucial phase of his St James' Park career. And while no one could fault his defensive contribution during games, a charge often laid at Gutirrez's door is that he fails to provide a killer ball for the United attack. However, after cropping up with two crucial assists last time out against Birmingham, midfielder Barton believes Gutirrez may well have turned a corner in his Newcastle career. With Best and Lvenkrands both getting among the goals recently, Gutirrez's contribution may be key in the run-in. Best, in partic- ular, has impressed on his way to the most prolific start to a Premier League career since Andy Cole in the 1994-95 season - five goals in seven games.
"The strikers have stepped up," said Barton. "If you are Leon Best, Nile Ranger, Shefki Kuqi - that's the chance they have been waiting for. "Besty has taken the bull by the horns, he has proven he is Premier League quality. "Peter has done what he has been doing for a long time, he is a nuisance in the box and scores goals - and the more they play together, the more they will develop an understanding. "Now they are going to get opportunities because of the way Jons Gutirrez is playing. At Birmingham they were two great goals, two great balls in from Jons. "One of the things that can be levelled at Jons sometimes is his end product, but he was different class at Birmingham and he is capable of that. "He is a maverick type but he is capable of producing world-class moments. The ball for the second (goal) at St Andrew's was fantastic and he'll be looking to continue that." With Barton yet to sign a new contract despite positive noises on transfer deadline day, his name has been added to those being linked with a move away fromSee the full content of this document
Extract
Barton's Backing Magpies' Maverick
St James' Park this summer. Reports yesterday morning claimed that Barton had turne...
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