James Belshaw latest as Joey Barton reveals position on Bristol Rovers favourite

James Belshaw has rejoined his Bristol Rovers teammates in training as Joey Barton hopes to put the ordeal behind them with no grudges held.

The 2021/22 Player of the Year was left out of the 18-man match-day squad on Tuesday, after being told he would not start by his manager when he announced the team on Monday. Ellery Balcombe was to start ahead of him, despite there being no requirement to do so after the Gas fulfilled Brentford’s criteria of playing him in the first three matches of his loan spell unchallenged.

Long-serving Anssi Jaakola replaced Belshaw, and whilst he remained at the stadium, he was not involved. Balcombe’s position has been made more difficult with supporters vocal in their support of Belshaw, who has been a popular figure since joining the club on a free transfer from Harrogate.

Balcombe kept his first clean sheet on Tuesday however and made several good saves in a promising display against promotion-chasing Ipswich Town. The Bees goalkeeper was assured in between the sticks and his performance is likely to keep him as the number one for the visit of Burton Albion.

More information has since emerged from Barton’s conversation with Belshaw, and where the situation is at between both the player and manager. Belshaw was warned he may not play for Rovers again by his boss unless things change, but there is a more positive outlook on things now, with the 40-year-old keen to put it behind them both.

“He’s trained this morning Belly, and he’s back in around the group,” revealed Barton. It was disappointing because you want people to be in the right frame of mind.

“I understand the emotion of not getting selected by the manager. You’ve got to channel that into performance and into backing your team and supporting your teammates.

“Belly is clearly aware of where it is at and we’ve put that behind us now and put it forward. He’s up for selection, he’s back training at the right intensity.

“For me, I don’t carry grudges, if you do things right if you want to try and slightly differently, unfortunately, I’ve got a duty to care to manage the group and the football club to the right standard of behaviour to make sure everyone understands the culture. It’s been clearly explained and look past that now to the future.”

Throughout Barton’s near two-year tenure, he has been open and honest with both the media and his teammates, outlining his thoughts and opinions to the team. In January, Barton was critical about the defence, and it ended up with Bobby Thomas being recalled by Burnley, and later sent out on loan to Barnsley.

Sylvester Jasper, a loanee from Fulham in the summer, had his spell cut short when Barton and the player decided it would be best for him to return to West London. Last season as well, Luke Thomas and Zain Westbrooke also had a message sent to them by Barton through the form of media.

It is an approach that divides opinion, but one that the former Manchester City midfielder is unlikely to change from. Barton has been captain at several clubs he’s played for and his honest talking has seen him turn Fleetwood Town into play-off contenders and lead Rovers back into the third tier at the third time of asking.

"We had a chat on Monday, and we left the office shaking hands," said Barton. There’s no problem. He’s trained and there is no issue. You asked me a question on Tuesday night and I answered it honestly because I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t. If I tried to say it was something else it looks like I was trying to hide something. I’m completely transparent with you.

"It’s the way I live and breathe, I think it is important people understand sometimes how it is from my perspective. I have to look after the whole group and make sure the standards of the group are maintained. If you have one player disappointed and maybe affecting his training performance and his attitude, what happens next week when I name a team and it is somebody else? You’ve got to be careful in this game and you encourage what you tolerate.

"I live a life of radical honesty. I wouldn’t coach any other way. It’s not genuine for me to be any other way and it brings difficulties for sure. People just say tell me the truth and as we know most people can’t handle the truth.