It appears Queens Park Rangers are in no hurry to get their controversial former captain Joey Barton back playing for them.
Barton is about to start a 12-match ban following violent conduct and subsequent sending off in their last English Premiership football match against Manchester City last season.
QPR have announced their squad numbers for the season and Barton's number 17 has been given to the New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen, who has joined from Tottenham.
Off-season speculation that the 29-year-old Barton would be sold or loaned out has so far come to nothing, but the new squad list, revealed on the club's website, does little to suggest he has a future at the west London club.
