Former Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal believes his ex-team mate Scott Brown won't be ruffled by the comments made by Rangers midfielder Joey Barton.

Speaking to Talksport, Barton described himself as a much better player than Brown and said the Scotland and Celtic captain was not in his league. But Kayal believes Brown has proved many critics wrong before and that the 30-year-old will do all of his talking on the pitch.

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During an interview with the Daily Record, the Brighton central midfielder said:"People were always going to talk about Broonie and Barton and it’s going to be a really great time in Scottish football hearing it all until the first Old Firm derby is played.

"Scott will be ready for that and preparing himself just now to beat Rangers, to beat Barton and to show his qualities and what a great player he is."

Kayal believes Brown's experience in top European competition, and the fact he is captain of his country means he has nothing to prove. The Israeli international also said Brown has endured criticism in the past but it has only proved to fire him up and push him on to become a better player.

"Broonie has a lot of experience and has proved himself at every level he has played," he said. "He is the captain of Celtic and the captain of his country. He has played in the group stages and knockout stages of the Champions League and has won many trophies with Celtic. But things like that obviously do fire you up a little bit. It’s happened before and it will again this time I’m sure."

Barton and Brown will no doubt go head-to-head when they face each other in the Old Firm derbies next season.

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