Is it time for Newcastle United to make an example of Joey Barton?

Jailed for six months for assault and affray in relation to incidents in Liverpool city centre late last year, it now becomes difficult to see where 25-year-old Joey Barton’s career goes from here.

Controversy has never been far from the  midfielder' side. A series of incidents have ensured that he has filled as many column inches on the front pages of newspapers as he has the back.

In 2004, he stubbed out a cigar in Manchester City team-mate Jamie Tandy’s eye. As punishment, Barton was fined six weeks' wages.  Less than a year later, while touring Asia with City, he was involved in an altercation with a teenage fan. Again his punishment was monetary, a fine of eight weeks' wages.

The final straw at the club where he came through the ranks, arrived in May last year when Barton allegedly struck team-mate Ousmane Dabo. This resulted in him being suspended from the club and subsequently transferred to Newcastle United for a fee of £5.8million.