Pearce hails hat-trick hero Barton

Jeroen

27 juli 2006, 09:40

Stuart Pearce described Joey Barton as "a major asset" for Manchester City after he netted all three goals in a 3-0 friendly win at Port Vale.

Barton, 23, put months of wrangling behind him by signing a new four-year contract with the Blues on Monday and then made the perfect start this evening, netting three times in the opening half at Vale Park.

"To score a hat-trick at any level at any time is a great achievement," said City manager Pearce. "You have to give Joey a lot of credit, he has bags of energy and got into the box on regular occasions. As I have said many times before, I see Joey as a major asset for this club. That is why we offered him a new contract when he still had 18 months of his existing one to run."