Ian Durrant: Rangers are a better side without Joey Barton

Barton was suspended by the Gers following a dressing room bust-up with his team-mates and confrontation with boss Mark Warburton in the aftermath of the Old Firm defeat at Parkhead.

The 34-year-old is also facing a charge by the Scottish FA after allegedly breaching betting rules and Light Blue legend Durrant believes Barton isn’t being missed in the middle of the park at present.

Read more: Ian Durrant: Rangers have completed The Journey but it will take time to hit the Premiership heights

He said: “It seems to be better without him. I’m not here to decry Joey Barton - he is a very good football player.

“But since Andy Halliday went into the same position, Rangers have looked a more solid unit.

“Jason Holt was sadly missed earlier in the season and his return has been important.

“I’ve loved watching the stuff Josh Windass has done when he’s played. He’s a chip off the old block in terms of being unselfish and making great runs forward. I think that trio is a solid three.

Read more: Ian Durrant: Rangers have completed The Journey but it will take time to hit the Premiership heights

“Niko Kranjcar is getting fitter, so he’s got good options in there.

“But Halliday seems to bring more solidity to the midfield.

“The manager and the club will do their bit on it in the fullness of time but it’s a distraction they don’t need with the games coming up.

“I’m sure everybody just wants it over and done with and what will happen will happen. “He’d have been a bit of a character in our dressing room but it’s totally changed now. We didn’t have Twitter and Facebook.

“When we were in the dressing room and things were said, it stayed in the dressing room. If there were fisticuffs, it happened and the two of them shook hands and got on with it.

“Now people leave games and have everything at their disposal to talk about what’s gone on. They can say things [on social media] and it’s a shame.

“If you are going to play a man’s game, be a man. Stand up to it.”

Barton penned a two-year deal at Ibrox as he became the highest profile arrival of the summer in Scottish football.

A series of poor showings saw pressure mount on him and boss Warburton and the 5-1 defeat to Celtic could prove to be his last outing for the club.

Read more: Ian Durrant: Rangers have completed The Journey but it will take time to hit the Premiership heights

And Durrant is pleased to see lifelong Light Blue Halliday stepping up to mark and becoming an integral part of Warburton’s side once again.

He said: “I think the fans can relate to Andy. I see the manager has stated he made a mistake by not playing him against Celtic.

"I think if Andy had been playing from the start at Parkhead it would have been a different result.

“He treasures every game and plays it as if it might be his last game. It’s always good to have people who know about the club and you certainly need to know about Old Firm games - they are back and everyone wants a slice of them.”