Barton think he's the best

Joey Barton believes he is already well on the way to becoming one of the best midfielders in the Premiership - insisting that not one of his illustrious counterparts has outplayed him this season.

The confident Manchester City man thinks he has what it takes to be mentioned in the same breath as Patrick Vieira, Roy Keane and Steven Gerrard.

"Every time I go on the pitch, I think this is the chance to prove I am better then them," said Barton.

"Every player I play against I think I'm better than them anyway. Personally I don't think anyone has got the better of me.

"People have said that Roy Keane did in the derby, but I wan't really battling head-to-head in the middle.

"I don't think I have come up against anyone when I have come off the pitch thinking he's taught me a lesson or played me off the park.

"And I have played against Vieira, Keane and Gerrard. They're the top midfielders in this country and in Europe.

"Your confidence just goes up and up when you think 'That's Vieira and I'm not far behind him'.

"You know that one day you will be as good as them all."