Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan insists controversial midfielder Joey Barton still has a future with the club.
Barton is set to leave prison next week after serving a six-month prison sentence for assault, and Keegan said he will give him a second chance.
"People have opinions, and you must respect those, but mine is to give him another chance and back him," Keegan told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.
"There are a lot of things he needs to put Essien signs new Chelsea contract ...
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Barton, serving his current sentence for assaulting a teenager in Liverpool, was also recently convicted of assaulting former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo but escaped another jail term when handed a suspended four-month sentence.
"Joey will be back with us towards the end of this month," said Keegan.
"It's well documented he's had his problems, but I knew of them when I took over. He's served his sentence, he's been punished for what he did wrong.
"The world is littered with people that have been given a second chance and taken it with both hands.
"I told him as long as from now on he did things right and started to rebuild the confidence of people around him, I would stick by him.
"The Joey Barton that we had in the last couple of months of the season was a much-changed character.
"I'm hoping that he'll come back and we'll get him fit. It's up to Joey to put things right now - he's got to win over a lot of people."
Meanwhile, Keegan expects club captain and England striker Michael Owen to sign a new contract with the club "in the next two or three weeks".
"I am not involved with that, the way the club works, that is for (executive director of football) Dennis Wise and (vice-president of player recruitment) Tony Jimenez to do. But I believe we will," he said.
"I know Michael wants to stay and I know we want to keep him, so that's two good reasons why it should happen."
Keegan, in his second spell as Newcastle boss, believes the club can improve on their 12th-placed finish of last season.
"Top eight [in the Premier League table] would be success for us," he said.
"Between fourth and eighth would be a big step up if we're honest. That would be fantastic."
(BBC)
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