Barton’s aim remains the same

Adam Barton had pledged to help bring Partick Thistle back to the top flight after a season of disappointment, writes Eric Nicolson.

But now his goal is to do it with Dundee United.

Cost-cutting led to the experienced midfielder being allowed to leave Firhill and United boss Csaba Laszlo was delighted to take advantage of a Championship rival’s situation.

For Barton, the club may have changed, but the focus hasn’t.

The 27-year-old said: “My first season with Thistle was a really good one. We got top six (and he got player of the season). Then unfortunately we got relegated. It just didn’t happen for us.

“I wanted to put it right and get the club back to where it wanted to be but I had to leave for financial reasons.

“Now I’m here I want to do the same for Dundee United.”

“I certainly don’t feel like I’ve stepped down at all,” continued Barton.

“On paper most people would say Dundee United is a bigger club than Partick Thistle.

“I enjoyed my time there but that’s behind me and it’s a new chapter that I’m really looking forward to it. That’s what football is all about – new challenges. I want to challenge for the title.

“I was always aware of how big a club this is and after speaking with the manager and people at the club about their ambitions, you are going to be confident that we’ll be pushing for promotion.

“That helped convince me to sign. It’s not about getting into the play-offs, it’s about winning the league.

Barton was an imposing figure in midfield for Partick and you wouldn’t expect him to struggle if Championship opponents want to turn football matches into battles.

He said: “I’m used to coming across direct and physical teams so that wouldn’t worry me if there are games like that in this league. It’s part of football.

“You can’t always win games with nice football. Sometimes you have to be more physical.

“Watching the Arbroath game it looks like the manager will want us to play nice football. And if we can get the other side into us, we should do well.”

Barton could make his debut against Ross County this evening in their second Betfred Cup game. “I’ll be fit for selection,” he said. “It’s up to the manager whether he wants to play me after one training session.

“I still had a year left at Thistle so I’ve done a pre-season, trained properly and played in games.”

Barton will be one of a few changes in Dingwall, as United seek to stay in the hunt after their draw and penalty shoot-out bonus point loss to Arbroath at the weekend.

Manager Laszlo said: “We will have a different team. I want to give everybody the chance of 90 minutes. We’ ll change goalkeepers. Both will get 90 minutes at home and away.

“In this position we don’t have a big problem. Benjamin (Siegrist) was really confident against Arbroath.

“Adam can play. It will be too early for Craig (Curran), though. Maybe on Saturday he can play.”