Glasgow Rangers recently extended Joey Barton’s suspension by a week.
Rangers’ Joey Barton looks dejected
Ian Durrant has told The Glasgow Evening Times that Rangers are a better team without Joey Barton.
Barton, who joined Rangers in the summer transfer window after leaving English club Burnley at the end of the 2015-16 season, is currently serving a suspension.
The former Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers midfielder was initially suspended for three weeks, but it was extended by a week, as announced on the Gers’ official website.
The 34-year-old midfielder was suspended by the Scottish Premiership club following a training ground bust-up with Rangers teammate Andy Halliday, as he himself told talkSPORT.
Barton was signed by Rangers in the summer in order to make the Glasgow giants competitive in the Scottish Premiership, but the Englishman has yet to make a massive impact at Ibrox.
Former Rangers and Scotland international midfielder Durrant believes that Mark Warburton’s side are better without Barton.
Rangers’ Joey Barton
The 49-year-old has also praised Rangers midfielder Halliday for his recent performances.
“It seems to be better without him,” Durrant told The Glasgow Evening Times. “I’m not here to decry Joey Barton – he is a very good football player.
“But since Andy Halliday went into the same position, Rangers have looked a more solid unit.”
Meanwhile, Kris Boyd has claimed that Barton’s career at Rangers is effectively over.
The former Rangers and Middlesbrough striker, now on the books of Kilmarnock, believes that the ex-Manchester City midfielder will not play for the Gers any more.
Kris Boyd
“Joey will know that and from all reports he has been working really hard to get his fitness back but I think it’s too late for him at Rangers and I think it’s finished for him,” Boyd told Sky Sports. “I’ll be very surprised if we see him back in a Rangers jersey.”
Rangers are fifth in the Scottish Premiership table at the moment with 12 points from eight matches, seven points behind leaders and Old Firm rivals Celtic, who have a game in hand.
Kris Boyd
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