Andy Walker compares Temmu Pukki’s time at Celtic to that of Rangers flop Joey Barton

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Both Teemu Pukki and Joey Barton endured difficult times during their respective spells at Celtic and Rangers.

Andy Walker has compared Teemu Pukki’s time at Celtic to that of Rangers flop Joey Barton, with the former now thriving in the Premier League with Norwich City.

Over the weekend, ex-Celtic man Pukki netted a stunning hat-trick for Norwich, as they bagged their first points of the new season following their promotion to England’s top-flight.

For some, Pukki’s recent rise has been a bit of a surprise because earlier on in his career, he did struggle during a short spell at Parkhead.

Speaking to Sky Sports News (19/08/2019 at 3:35 pm), Walker stated that the pressures at Celtic were too much for Pukki, as he also claimed that, like ex-Rangers man, Barton, they didn’t realise ‘just how quick’ the game was in Scotland.

“He was just too young,” Walker told Sky Sports. “Coming to Celtic there is a lot of pressure on you, especially when you are signing for big money. He was in a Celtic team with Vigil van Dijk, he had experience in Champions League, but it didn’t work out for him and he needed time away just to find his game again.

“But now that he is in his late 20’s, I think he is in the form of his life. That’s why he will be a very special player for Norwich this season, I have no doubts at all that he will continue to score on a regular basis.

“But the pressure he was under at Celtic, I just think he didn’t realise just how quick the game was up here. You remember not so long ago that Joey Barton was a Championship Player of the Season. Came to Rangers and it didn’t work out for him either. He just found it a bit too much for him – that’s what happened with Pukki.”

It simply didn’t work out for Pukki at Celtic, but he was a lot younger then, but he seems to have matured now and there’s no doubt he is one to watch in England’s top-flight.

As for Barton, he had helped Burnley earn promotion to the Premier League, and then in 2016, he penned a two-year contract at Ibrox.

But during his five-game stint, he and Rangers suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Old Firm rivals Celtic and before the new year could come along, his contract at the club was terminated [BBC Sport].