Midfielder, Joey Barton is hoping to figure in Kevin Keegan's plans for the rest of the season and could be in the side to face Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok on Saturday week.

The twenty-year-old has made one appearance in the squad at the end of November when he famously lost his shirt. Now he is set to clinch a place in the team.

"Hopefully I would like to be involved and show everyone what I can do towards the end of the season," said the Liverpool born midfielder.

"I have been playing well enough in the reserves and now I want to test myself and see if I can make the step up to that next level."

"I think every young kid who plays football and watches the other teams play thinks he can play. But the big test is getting out there to show everyone what I can do. I don't want to sound over confident and say I can do this and that."

"I believe enough in my own ability for when I get out there that I will be able to show everyone what I can do."

And it is that inner belief and determination that has kick started his career with the Blues after it came close to being ended when the midfielder was a member of the City Academy.

"When I was sixteen in the Academy I had had a few injuries and when I came back from injury I didn't get back into the team. I knew the coaching staff there were thinking that they would not keep me, so I knew I had to go and do something."

"I found something inside me, the will to win and that got me back in the team and I was given a new contract. Ever since then it has been an upward curve for me."

"They said to me at one point that they were not too sure of me and that there were players who were doing better than me."

"What I did was to stay behind in the gym to get stronger and to kick balls at walls just to make me a better player. I knew I had something that would not accept what they were saying. I think the staff recognised that I have a will to win."

"There was a lad who was with me at the time who came from the Liverpool area. They said the same to him and he was released a couple of weeks later as his heart was not in it."

"When they told me they were not sure about my future here it gave me a kick up the backside and pushed me on. Ever since then I have not looked back."

"There were players like Terry Dunfield and Jeff Whitley who were ahead of me but through sheer graft and wanting to get on I have got past them, they have left the club now and I am still here."

When the midfield tyro started training with the squad Kevin Keegan had to pull him aside and tell him to tone down his enthusiasm. It was the same in the reserves last season as the cautions quickly mounted up.

Now he has had to learn to keep his aggression in check, though he believes it was a need to prove himself that led to a host of yellow cards.

"I wanted to prove myself too much. Now if there is a tackle there in my head I am telling myself to go and win it. I know I have to pull back in training but if it is in a game I will go for it."

"It is hard to find a balance between training and a match, and that is the fine line which I have crossed at times, I was just over enthusiastic."

"This year I have only had three bookings whereas last season I had fourteen yellows and one red card and I have played more games this season, so it is rubbing off. "

And if the chance comes along to realise his dream of playing for City then he is confident that he can grasp it.

"I think if I get in the first team I will stay in, I think I am good enough to do that."

"It will take me three or four games to find my feet but I don't think there will be anyone who will come in and take my place if I get my chance. I am pretty confident in my own ability without being over confident and I know it is going to be hard when I get in."

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