YOU just couldn’t make it up, could you?

Just five minutes into Joey Barton’s return to Premier League action he scored the free-kick that handed us a massive three points against Southampton on Saturday.

As soon as we got the free-kick I tweeted that it would be difficult for anyone to wrestle the ball off Joey. The next tweet I sent was confirmation that he’d gone and sent it past Fraser Forster and into the back of the net.

MORE TOP STORIES:

I know he still has the FA charge hanging over his head but that goal – and that three points – could be absolutely key come the end of the season.

Talking of ‘the season’, the win over Sunderland in the FA Cup replay on Tuesday night means that we could be on for a bit of excitement on two fronts.

The visit of a Bristol City side who stuttered to a win over Fleetwood Town over two games gives us a real chance of progression and as I’ve said before that can only be a good thing.

Sean Dyche was once again able to use his squad and the fringe players came in again and did admirably.

James Tarkowski turned in a man of the match performance that should convince everyone that the future is bright, even if we were to lose Michael Keane in the summer.

I think Tarks actually has a tad more potential than Michael and that’s not trying to talk Keano down.

Both are fabulous players but I think Tarks just has something more about him on the ball. His calmness in often tight spots – especially in the middle of the park where he’s been deployed late on in games this term – just gives him a very slight edge going forward.

I think working with Dyche and his team both players have been able to add something to their game which will hopefully see them reach the very highest level, hopefully with the Clarets.

This weekend we put all notion of a cup run behind us with the Sunday trip to Arsenal and an encounter which has to be among the hardest of the season.

Arsene Wenger’s side look in good form but after coming through a Southampton test which offered plenty of danger, I feel the lads are really starting to grow into the top flight. I’m not going to say I expect a Clarets win, but you never know.