Niko Kranjcar says fellow Rangers signing Joey Barton is underrated

Niko Kranjcar believes fellow Rangers signing Joey Barton is one of the most underrated players he has played with and says he cannot wait for his Old Firm debut.

The former Tottenham midfielder has joined the Ibrox side on a two-year deal, becoming manager Mark Warburton's sixth summer signing.

He has played alongside fellow new signings Barton and Clint Hill at QPR and could not speak highly enough of the former Burnley midfielder as he said he wants to help Rangers challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title.

"The goal is to win the league, that is something that you want to achieve when you come to a size of a club as Rangers is," he said. "You want to win the league and you want to fight for every single title that is in front of you.

"It has to be the goal. It will be tough, winning any trophy is tough, in any league in the world, whatever club you are but it is something you want to achieve and you work hard to achieve it. I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to be ready for the challenge and hopefully make it.

"It has been so well reported and said what Joey can bring; probably the most underrated player I have played with because his ability is really up there with the best.

"His character, I think everybody knows that he is going to bring more, he is going to give everything to win a football game so I think he is a great fit for the club."

Kranjcar said the Old Firm derby is one of the reasons why he was drawn to a switch to Ibrox but thinks he will be able to handle the occasion after making the move from Dinamo Zagreb to fierce rivals Hajduk Split during his time playing in his home country.

"I have played in similar derby games back home in Croatia, had the transfer from one club to another one so I am sure I will be able to deal with the situation and atmosphere that the Old Firm brings," he said.

The 31-year-old is the third former QPR player who is over 30 to sign for Rangers this summer and striker Kenny Miller says adding experience to the squad is vital.

"The signings we have made at the moment, the manager has done a fantastic job of getting a really good blend of experience and lads who have been over the course and distance - winners, leaders," he said.

"The more guys like that you can get in your team then the better chance you have got of being successful in my opinion."