Joey Barton knows better than anybody that his reputation usually walks into the room a few seconds before him.
And he knows that he'll probably never shake off the bad boy tag that large sections of the media have attempted to hit him with ever since he first pulled on a black-and-white shirt.
True, at times he can't help saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong people.
But although, there are plenty of tales of controversy in his past, perhaps Kevin Keegan is beginning to iron out a midfielder who was once tipped for big things with England.
Firstly, Barton has been told for his own good to blank the media with court appearances pending for whatever happened on December 26 last year.
But if there is any psychological strain regarding the above matter, it certainly isn't showing.
He's been in top form and the 4-3-3 formation - which seems to be doing several of the Toon players a lot of favours - is doing him no harm whatsoever.
Back on October 22, Barton's return to the first team actually coincided with the beginning of the end for Big Sam.
His first goal for the club at Fulham also coincided with THREE months without a win for Newcastle fans.
But game by game he has shown he's a player that Newcastle have to stick with.
And his recent application to the job in hand proves that Newcastle just might still have a top, top Premier League battler on their hands.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JOEY BARTON'S MINI-REVIVAL?
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