HE can talk the talk. Now he must walk the walk.

Joey Barton has never been afraid to make his voice heard but it will be his actions and not his words that will speak loudest this season.

The midfielder has certainly made an impact in Scottish football since he signed for Rangers last month, and the Ibrox crowd have immediately taken to a player that many love to hate.

He has spoken openly about his past and passionately about his future with Mark Warburton’s side. Barton is a colourful yet controversial character and his latest comments have once again put him at the centre of the debate.

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Glasgow Times: Rangers' newest signing Joey Barton is unveiled to the press at Murray Park. Picture: SNS

The 33-year-old has proven to be intriguing listening as a radio guest in recent days and, when speaking about Celtic skipper Scott Brown, he said: “He's not even in my league - he's nowhere near the level of player I am.”

Much has been made of the anticipated showdown between Barton and Brown when the Old Firm rivalry is renewed during the battle for the Premiership title next term.

It is the Englishman who has fired the first shots in the war of words and former Ibrox midfielder Bobby Russell knows he must now back them up by producing when it matters in the coming months.

He told SportTimes: “We didn’t have stuff like this back in my day, it was never personal and talking about other players. That never really happened, not to my knowledge anyway.

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“With social media and the following Joey has got, he is taking advantage of that. I am old school, it doesn’t interest me and I’m not interested in his views or comments.

“Some people will be. He has got his followers, he is trying to endear himself to the Rangers supporters and good luck to him.Glasgow Times: Forward trio Gordon Smith, Davie Cooper and Bobby Russell give the thumbs-up during their early days at Rangers<br> SEND your footballing queries to Now You Know, Evening Times Sport, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3QB or, email sport@

“If he is talking like that before a ball is kicked, then he will know that he has to produce it on the park. Rangers supporters aren’t daft and if he is not doing it on the park then they will not be slow in giving him a bit of stick.

“He has got to back up his words with his performances. Scott Brown has got five titles in his locker and Joey will be determined to get his first in Scottish football.

“It is tongue in cheek stuff. But he has got to back it up now and produce in the big games.”

When Barton was unveiled at Murray Park last month, he set his sights on becoming the best player in Scotland as he looks to inspire Warburton’s side to Premiership glory.

At 33, the midfielder may have considerable miles on the clock but he has proven his class in recent months by leading Burnley back to the English Premier League.

His capture is a significant coup for boss Warburton and if Barton can recapture his finest form then he could easily be the signing of the summer in our game.Glasgow Times: Joey Barton at Murray Park

Gers fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the former Manchester City, Newcastle, QPR and Marseille star strut his stuff this term and '80s Ibrox hero Russell is confident Barton can live up to the hype.

He said: “He has shown that he is a very good player but he is a controversial character and he has made headlines with the things he has done and says off the park.

“He has done a lot on the park, and some bad things. At the end of the day, I don’t think Scott Brown will be bothering too much about it.

“Joey is a big player, he will be successful at Rangers. He is a bit older, so does he still have the legs?

“He was in the Championship Team of the Year last year so he still has a bit left in him yet. I think he will be a great addition to the Rangers squad.

“I think it will be an eye-opener for him. He will have read a lot about Scottish football being in the doldrums but it is still a very physical game.

“If he is going to come away with certain comments, of course people are going to highlight him and he will be a marked man. He has shown in the past that, at times, he can’t handle that and he has spoken about his misdemeanours.Glasgow Times: BORN WINNER: Dougie Freedman can understand why Rangers worked so hard to land Joey Barton

“Will he be able to cope with being at Rangers and the Old Firm? Time will tell and hopefully he does.”

If Barton can turn on the style this season, it would go a long way to helping Rangers in their bid for the Premiership crown in their first campaign back in the top flight.

Having eased to the Championship title, lifted the Petrofac Training Cup and reached the Scottish Cup final last term, expectation levels are high as Warburton prepares for his second campaign in the dugout.

The Gers boss has admitted his side have to be ‘highly competitive’ in the Premiership, but many fans feel only a challenge for the silverware will be acceptable.

Russell said: “Rangers are too big a club to not look to win the league. They have made a few signings, there will be a couple more.

“They will be going up there with the intention of winning the league. You can’t think that second or third will do, not at Rangers.

“It is a different situation for Rangers compared with other teams that come up into the top division. They were down but they shouldn’t really have been. They are a big club and need to be in the Premiership.

“It is not the same circumstances like another team coming up. Rangers are back where they should be, for their sake and Scottish football.

“They won’t be going there thinking ‘it is going to take a couple of years’. I don’t think that is the case.”