GEORGE Boyd today tipped Joey Barton to put the bitter disappointment of his Rangers exit firmly behind him in the coming months – by helping Burnley clinch Barclays Premier League survival.

Barton netted the winning goal for the Clarets after coming on as a second-half substitute against their top flight rivals Southampton at Turf Moor on Saturday.

It was a sweet moment for the English midfielder who had his contract at Ibrox terminated in November after being suspended as the result of a training ground bust-up with Andy Halliday.

And former Scotland internationalist Boyd, who won the free-kick that his team mate scored from, reckons it won’t be the last that he savours in Lancashire in the 2016/17 campaign.

The winger is confident the 34-year-old, whose weekend strike sent Sean Dyche’s side up to tenth place in the table, can help to keep them in the Premier League.

Barton helped Burnley to win the Sky Bet Championship last season - and was named their Supporters' Player of the Year as well as in the PFA Championship Team of the Year as a result of his displays.

“Joey’s been great since he came in and it was set up for him to score the winning goal on his first home game back,” said Boyd.

“He is a good fit with this club. He was brilliant for us last season and he has come back in seamlessly.

“The longer the game against Southampton went on, the more we were all over them. He’s come on, given everyone a lift at the right time and pushed us on to get the win.

“I said to Joey it was made for him to score that free-kick. He’s a lucky boy isn’t he? It was a great way to end it.”

Barton had made his return for Burnley when he started in the Emirates FA Cup match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light nine days ago – a game which he helped his side draw 0-0.

But the cup tie had been his first outing in four months, since he had featured in the 5-1 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead back in September in fact, and Dyche left him out of his side at the weekend.

But Boyd, whose tireless work on the right flank helped to wear down doughty opponents, predicted that his influence will grow in the coming weeks.

“He’s had a long break and obviously hasn’t played for a while,” he said. “But his fitness levels last week at Sunderland, where he lasted 90 minutes, were brilliant. He came on and looked strong on Saturday.

“So the more games he gets, and the more rhythm he gets back in his game, the better. You are only going to see a better Joey Barton.”

The highly-public suspension for a breach of discipline in September and subsequent termination of his contract in November must have been difficult for Barton, despite the various bust-ups and brushes with authority that he has been involved in throughout his career, to deal with.

But asked if he thought that Barton was a more subdued character as a result of his experiences, Boyd replied. “No. This is Joey we’re talking about! He’s one of the most confident people I know.

“He’s got that belief in himself and he’s fitted straight back in so nicely. He’s exactly the same as he was last time.”

Barton, who was banned by the SFA for one game for breaking their rules on gambling last year, is facing a suspension by the FA over identical charges.

The former Manchester City, Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers player stands accused of placing 1,260 bets over a 10 year period.

But Boyd is hopeful the matter is dealt with because he feels his team mate will be crucial to Burnley achieving their goals in the Premier League in the coming months.

“We’ve not really spoken about it (the FA charge),” he said. “He’s got until the end of the month to give his answers so it’s something the club will look at.

“But he’s just got to keep playing his game until he knows otherwise. It’s something the club needs to sort out. As long as he keeps playing well for us, we’re fine.”

Burnley leapfrogged Southampton and moved into 10th place in the top flight table as a result of their weekend win.

Boyd, who has been buoyed by the addition of Barton to their squad, believes that securing their place in the richest league in the world is within their grasp.

“It’s incredible really when you look at it,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep on going. There is a 10 point gap (over third bottom Hull City) now which is great for us. A few more wins and hopefully that will be enough.

“We look up now. You look how well West Brom have done this season and we are only a couple of points away from them. Top half is amazing for this football club. We’ve just got to keep on progressing forward, not look down and keep looking up.”

“If you consider the last time we were nowhere near it. So we;’ve nearly got the same points total we got for the whole of that season already. It’s massive for us, long may it continue.”

Incredibly, Burnley now have the third best home record in the Premier League behind leaders Chelsea and second-placed Spurs having won eight games there and Boyd reckons that will help their bid to stay up.

“People hate it at Turf Moor don’t they?” he said. “It’s the changing rooms! Credit to the players, we get in among them and they don’t like coming here. They’re not used to that sort of intensity with the crowd on our side. They just don’t like coming here.”