Barton has been suspended by the Ibrox side following an alleged spat involving manager Mark Warburton.
Former Rangers midfielder Ian Black has backed Joey Barton to be handed another chance at Ibrox, in an interview with the Daily Record.
And according to the 31-year-old, Barton, suspended for three weeks following an alleged spat involving manager Mark Warburton, will make the most of the opportunity if so.
The pair hold a long-standing friendship, having both been on Manchester City’s books as youngsters. However they missed out on a Glasgow reunion by a single year, with Black released at the end of his contract last summer.
“I’ve known him since we were young kids at Manchester City. I have kept in touch over the years and he’s incredibly strong,” Black told the Daily Record. “There are few people who have stronger characters and I don’t think the recent events will faze him. It takes a lot to ruffle his feathers.”
He added: “Make no mistake, Joey went to Ibrox to win trophies, he doesn’t want to be second best. If he gets another opportunity, which I believe he will, he’ll make the most of it.
“Joey knows he’s capable of playing at any level, he came up to Scotland to play and I’m sure he’ll prove people wrong. He has done it in the past and I’m sure he will do again.”
Black, who began his career at Inverness Caledonian Thistle via a spell in Blackburn Rovers’ youth ranks, was the first player to sign for Rangers following the club’s demotion to the fourth tier in 2012, having impressed in the Premiership with Hearts.
In three seasons at Ibrox, the midfielder played 115 times for the Light Blues, scoring eight goals and helping them to two back-to-back promotions from League Two to Championship.
The once-capped Scotland international returned to English football with Shrewsbury Town upon his release, and narrowly avoided relegation from League One in his first season at New Meadow.
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