Joey Barton says there will always be a role for Nick Anderton Bristol Rovers after the 26-year-old underwent a successful operation to remove a tumour this week. The defender was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in his femur in the summer and he had it removed at a hospital in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The news turned Anderton's world upside down and put his playing career in doubt, although in an interview before his operation he said he will do all he can to return to the pitch again. In the meantime, his illness has hit his teammates hard but his response has also offered a source of inspiration.
Relieved that one of his promotion-winning heroes is on the mend, Barton made clear his admiration for the man. No matter what the future holds, the Rovers manager says his door will always be open for the popular defender.
