So far he has yet to pull on his boots in Glasgow, but Joey Barton has made a distinct impression before he has come anywhere near to kicking a ball.

The midfielder will turn out for Rangers this season and with a reputation for controversy and confrontation established long before his career had ever really taken off, and he has wasted little time in living up to it since confirming his switch to Ibrox.

Scott Brown was on the receiving end of some withering remarks on Saturday morning as Barton launched a put-down on the Celtic captain, while later comments emerged of the midfielder taking a pop at Brendan Rodgers who has “never won anything.”

Read more: Celts close in on Danny GrahamGlasgow Times: BORN WINNER: Dougie Freedman can understand why Rangers worked so hard to land Joey Barton

It has set the tone for what promises to be an intriguing season.

However, former Hoops midfielder Peter Grant believes that Barton, for all his outspokenness, will be in for a shock when he finally checks into Glasgow properly.

The Liverpudlian is working with Talksport at the minute as the radio show covers the European Championships, and Grant believes that shooting from the mouth is one thing when you are at a distance - but an entirely different proposition when you are immersed in the culture of the city all day every day.

Read more: Joey Barton must back up his words with actions for Rangers next season, says former Ibrox hero Bobby Russell

Grant has crossed paths with Barton throughout his time in coaching and management circles in England and has told the 33-year-old that he will have experienced nothing like the intensity of the city.

“I don’t think he quite gets what he has let himself in for,” he said. “Playing with QPR, with Manchester City, with Marseilles and with Burnley will come with pressures and expectations – bit there is nothing that can compare to being a Celtic or a Rangers player.

“There is no release from that.

“No-one will ever let you forget a thing you have said publicly.Glasgow Times: Joey Barton

“To come out with stuff about Scott Brown and Brendan Rodgers before a ball has been kicked is crazy. We all know that Joey likes to be forthright with his opinions but I don’t think he quite realises what he is setting himself up for.

“He would be far better to shut his mouth and do his talking on the pitch.

“As for Scott, it would be just as daft for him to give it the slightest bit of notice. Again, there will be a game in the next couple of months when they come up against each other – that’s the time to show what you have got.

“I do think winding people up and antagonising them is a big part of Joey’s game. It always has been. But there is a point when it is a part of your demeanour and then a line when you have got to be able to back that up.

“When I was a Celtic player – and you have seen this countless times over the years – when big names would come up, players who were talented lads and who had done it at the highest level elsewhere and simply not be able to cope with Celtic.

“It is 24/7. It is constant. If you play well all is great but there is no hiding place in Glasgow when things go wrong.”

At 33, Barton comes to Rangers at the end of a colourful and controversial career. But while Grant thinks the Englishman is arriving believing that he has seen and done it all, that there will still be something of a shock when he fully submerses himself in the culture of a city that lays claims to its footballers.Glasgow Times: Joey Barton at Murray Park

“I remember when I first left Celtic and headed south. We were at an away game and got a draw and when I got back into the dressing room there were lads talking about a night out. A night out! We had just drawn a game and no-one was batting an eyelid.

“The only people here who truly get what the pressure is like at Celtic or Rangers would be Manchester United players. They have a similar weight of being told they must win every game and win with a certain kind of style.

“I know myself that when I was playing that guys like Ian Durrant and Ally McCoist were under the same pressures as us. And now with social media I think there is ever fewer places to hide if you are wanting to court any kind of controversy.”

The first Old Firm clash of the season will be interesting, with Celtic already itching to atone for their semi-final defeat to Rangers in the William Scottish Cup in April.

But with the arrows fired quite deliberately across the bows this summer, the stage is set for an intriguing head-to-head.

“Everyone in those dressing rooms that day will be nervous – even Barton, whatever he tells anyone,” said Grant. “Every game like that is massive but it is brilliant for Scottish football.

“There are people down here sitting up and taking notice of what has gone on this summer and there will be a lot of eyes on that first meeting, that is for sure.

“The great thing for me is that we are going to see full stadiums and big crowds and there is just a feeling that we are seeing Scottish football on the up again.”