Monday 13 June 2016 16:58, UK
Scott Brown will only be fired up by Joey Barton's dismissive jibes about the Celtic captain, according to former team-mate Mark Wilson.
Rangers signing Barton has wasted no time lighting the blue-touch paper ahead of his Old Firm derby baptism after insisting he will dominate Hoops battler Brown next season.
The former England midfielder said: "He's not even in my league - he's nowhere near the level of player I am. He can't get near me. If I play well, Brown does not stand a chance."
But Wilson, who spent five years sharing a dressing room with the Scotland captain during his Celtic days, reckons those words could come back to haunt the Ibrox midfielder.
"I had a wee chuckle about that when I read Joey's comments. He is obviously trying his best to mix things up," Wilson said. "He's a top-quality player and I've always admired him but to be fair so is Scott Brown. Scott has been at the top of the game, especially up here, for so many years.
"I'm sure 'Broonie' will have heard those comments and will be ready when it comes to the first Old Firm game to show that he can lay a glove on Barton.
"Scott has the experience of playing in these big derbies which Barton doesn't. He has sampled everything and knows what to expect. Joey Barton is new to things up here and I'm sure it will be an eye-opener for him when he runs down the tunnel for the first derby.
"He has played in some big games for some big clubs during his career but nothing will come close to playing in an Old Firm game.
"Joey is making an impression all right. That's what he's going to bring. He's always been a controversial character but that's what we've been missing for the last three or four years. It's all exciting. I just can't wait for the first Old Firm game."
As well as criticising Brown, Barton has also taken aim at Brendan Rodgers after pointing out the new Hoops boss has never lifted a major trophy but Wilson believes Celtic could not have chosen a better man to pick up the pieces following Ronny Deila's departure.
"It was a brilliant appointment," the 32-year-old said. "He was always my number one choice to become Celtic manager. The board knew they needed to make a massive appointment and they have gone and got their first-choice guy, so hats off to them.
"I just can't wait to see how he will transform the team with his style of play and how he will put that into play. Hopefully he will bring success. With Rangers coming up, it's going to be a great season and I'm looking forward to it."
Rodgers has already started reshaping the Parkhead squad after releasing Anthony Stokes and allowing fellow striker Colin Kazim-Richards to join Brazilian outfit Coritiba.
"You would think more would follow," said Wilson. "That was pretty evident from last season that whoever came in was going to do that. Kazim-Richards was one of the strangest signings I've seen at Celtic.
"So Rodgers will clear them out, get them off the wage bill. You'd think the Celtic board would give him some money to spend and he will bring in quality.
"But what I'm looking forward to seeing is his coaching and how he plans to work with the players already there, whether he can turn them into a nice passing team who play attacking football in a successful style."
