The difference between League One and Premier League is all in the mind for new Fleetwood Town boss Joey Barton

Barton's summer arrival at Highbury was not just restricted to bringing in Clint Hill and Steve Eyre on the coaching side.

His agent, Eddie Jennings, is helping with the transfer policy while sports psychologist, Steve Black, is working on the mental side of things.

It is Barton's first experience of League One and it's the mental approach he'll be addressing in bidding to improve on Town's 14th-placed finish last season.

Speaking about what he has learned since taking on his first managerial role, he said: “I think the general level of fitness and tactical and technical ability of the players.

“I have never played at League One; I played three seasons in the Championship, winning it twice and the play-offs.

“I’ve always been in the top six of the Championship and the rest aside from a short spell in Scotland (Rangers) or France (Marseille) was in the Premier League.

“All I have ever known is that level.

“Whichever way you look at it, you would expect the levels below to be levels below.

“You are never quite sure how far but we have been really surprised at actually how close to the level the lads in League One and Fleetwood in League One are.

“I can see where they need to improve and it has been a huge learning experience as to where they need to improve.

“Not to do with talent or fitness; it used to be, it used to be the elite level lads were fitter.