Glasgow Rangers midfielder Joey Barton is under pressure to perform in the Old Firm derby, says former Ibrox striker Gordon Smith.
Rangers midfielder Joey Barton
Gordon Smith has told The Glasgow Evening Times that Rangers midfielder Joey Barton is under pressure to perform well against Celtic this weekend.
Rangers will take on Old Firm rivals Celtic away from home at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
Former Newcastle United midfielder Barton, who joined the Gers in the summer transfer window after leaving Burnley at the end of the 2015-16 season, is set to start for Mark Warburton’s side against the Hoops.
Former Rangers striker Smith has said that the 34-year-old midfielder will be under pressure to perform in what is one of the biggest and most intense derbies in the world.
Rangers’ Clint Hill and Joey Barton look dejected
“He is going to be judged on Saturday and he has to perform,” Smith told The Glasgow Evening Times about Barton.
“If he does perform and does well then everyone will say ‘he forecast that, all credit to him’. It is the hardest thing in football to predict how you are going to do.
“I think he is finding his feet but he is under pressure because this is the biggest game Rangers have got, it is at Celtic Park and he is against someone that he has already downplayed and criticised, albeit tongue in cheek.”
Joey Barton
Barton was a high-profile signing for Rangers in the summer transfer window, and he is under pressure to showcase his quality against Celtic.
The former Manchester City midfielder, though, is used to featuring in big games, and playing against Celtic is not going to faze him.
The former Queens Park Rangers man is now a very mature player, and it is unlikely that he will go into rash challenges and get sent off.
Joey Barton in action with Dean Marney
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
