Rangers new boy Joey Barton has kicked off the mind games ahead of next season's Old Firm derby with Celtic.

The former Manchester City, Newcastle United, QPR, Marseille and Burnley midfielder has found his way to Glasgow to team up with Rangers following their promotion to the Scottish Premiership and has quickly created a buzz around the resumption of one of British football's fiercest rivalries.

"I don't think anyone thinks it will be easy. Celtic are a great football club and have it their own way while Rangers have been out of the top flight," he told talkSPORT.

"You expect them to improve. They have brought Brendan Rodgers in and that will be a huge outlay for them. They will be expected to go on and kick on.

"The only thing you have to quantify that with – and I'm not trying to stir the pot here, I'm being realistic – is Brendan has never won a trophy. He's never won anything.

"So he is going to have to do stuff up there that he hasn't done before.

"He is a great manager. I think he is a great appointment and is good for Scottish football. But second for Celtic next year is nothing."