Agent defends banned Barton

Joey Barton's agent Willie McKay has accused Manchester City of making an example of the player because he is "an easy target".

Barton, 24, was suspended on Tuesday until the end of the season after a violent altercation with team-mate Ousmane Dabo during a training game at City's Carrington training complex. However, McKay said Barton was acting in self-defence and City were wrong to discipline him as harshly as they have done.

"If he had scored three goals in the last three games do you think they would have dropped him?" he told PA Sport. "He is an easy target. It was self-defence."

Barton will face an internal disciplinary hearing at some point in which he will be asked to explain his actions.

It is hard to see how the England international can justify his behaviour and is at odds with the mild-mannered approach he appeared to be adopting on the field after undergoing behavioural counselling at the renowned Sporting Chance clinic.

Only last week the Merseysider heavily criticised some of City's new signings - Dabo among them - for failing to produce the goods this season, attacked the lack of planning at boardroom level, and then claimed he would not have paid to watch the Blues play if he had been a fan.

He escaped punishment for that but this latest incident is far more serious.

When asked whether Barton, who signed a four-year contract last summer, had a future at the club, McKay said:

"That is up to the club. I don't know who is going to be there. Joey has got a contract at Man City and he has given one million per cent on the pitch.

"I have spoken with Joey and I have spoken with the club, who have said they will be in contact."