In all likelihood, Joey Barton will never play for Rangers again. His last appearance for the club was six weeks ago in the 5-1 Old Firm beating against Celtic.
Barton was subsequently involved in a training ground altercation with teammate Andy Halliday and manager Mark Warburton. He was suspended by the club - that included being banned from both Ibrox and Auchenhowie where Rangers train.
Following that 5-1 win against Rangers, Celtic captain Scott Brown said on Sky Sports that the game was 'men vs boys'. He enjoyed the game. He also appears to have enjoyed how Barton's situation at Rangers has developed in the interim.
Scott Brown on Joey Barton implosion
Celtic play Rangers in the League Cup semi-final on Sunday. Ahead of the game, Brown was asked if he was disappointed regarding the presumed brevity of Barton's Old Firm career.
After the last performance, it’s quite amusing.
For me he tried to wind the whole game up and to make it about him, but yet again [it proved] you come into these games and top quality players in the past have struggled. It’s always going to be hard for anyone if they are not going to do the work.
Shortly after his arrival at Rangers, Barton was asked about Scott Brown and the battles they were likely to have. Barton quipped that Brown wasn't 'in his league'. Brown feels that comments such as this put Barton's Rangers teammates under pressure.
He put his team-mates under a lot of pressure while we kept focused, kept on the straight and narrow and we just worried about our game, no one elses.
I just did my talking on the park rather than in the media.
They have now started to get a few results and get a steady team and that’s better for them. But we’re improving and getting stronger and fitter as well.
