Kevin Nolan urges Joey Barton to follow him to West Ham

Kevin Nolan has suggested that Joey Barton should follow him from Newcastle United to Championship side West Ham United.

Nolan, 29, left the Magpies earlier this summer amid accusations that they had "betrayed" him and offered him a "laughable" new contract.

Barton, meanwhile, has been informed that he can leave on a free after he repeatedly criticised the club on Twitter.

"I came here so I can't see why Joey Barton wouldn't come here," Nolan told The Mirror.

"He's probably looking for an escape the way he's been treated. He knows I'm here, he knows [manager Sam Allardyce] is here and what we are about.

"I can look after him and he can look after me."

Former Newcastle boss Allardyce is thought to be interested in the 28-year-old midfielder, as are Queens Park Rangers, Stoke, Everton and Spurs.