Professional Footballers' Association chairman Clarke Carlisle believes that Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton has made "great strides" to channel his anger.

The former Newcastle United midfielder will be banned from featuring for the R's until November next season after being hit with a 12-match suspension due to found guilty of violent conduct during QPR's 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on the last day of the season.

"It is not Joey Barton per se that is the problem, it is the actions he does when he loses control," Carlisle told BBC Radio Five Live. "It is something he has been working very hard to get on top of but obviously there is still work to go.

"It is when Joey sees the red mist that we need to get a control of because it sets a poor example to the thousands of kids who are watching the game.

"Joey has done some fantastic work with regards to his anger management over the years. We have seen him make great strides as a person and the way he does conduct himself 95% of the time. But when you have a reputation it is the times that you lose it comes to the fore. Should Joey want our support we most defintitely will be there for him."

Barton's recent actions have caused the West London club to launch an internal investigation, which could spell the end of the playmaker's career at Loftus Road.