Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has said he hopes the one-cap England player can learn from the latest in a long line of incidents.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Taylor said: "No doubt the judge, like us (the PFA], will be hoping that this term in prison will have made him come to terms with his problems - and I hope he's eradicated them for the sake of his life and his football career."

Barton escaped a second jail term when he received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, yesterday.

He is currently serving six months in prison for a separate incident.

The latest sentencing was imposed after the 25-year-old midfielder admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo during a training session on May 1 last year.

"It's one of those strange situations that when you talk to the lad in the cold light of day he's quiet, he's calm, he's considered," added Taylor.

"But he has those demons - there's no doubt they're there.

"He's been fortunate with this sentence, that it's been suspended.

Taylor confirmed the PFA have already offered to help Barton.

"We encouraged him to take use of our facility at Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic that is staffed by people who have been through and have had various addictive problems," he said.

"With Joey Barton, it's been anger management and it's also problems with alcohol.

"I was hoping that the incarceration, to be in prison, would be a catalyst.

"It's a sad case.

"He's completely off the rails - and if it carries on like this, he'll continue to cause suffering to people."

On Tuesday Newcastle said they would be holding talks with the player and his representatives as soon as possible.