Scottish Gossip: Scott Brown, Joey Barton, Partick Thistle, Hibernian, Gordon Strachan

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Scott Brown suggested Joey Barton's controversial comments put unnecessary pressure on Rangers before their last game against Celtic and predicted they will perform better without him. (The Herald)

The Celtic captain says "it's quite amusing" that Barton's Rangers career has imploded after just one Old Firm game. (Daily Express)

Rangers midfielder Niko Kranjcar is facing a desperate fight to save his season after suffering a horror knee injury. (Scottish Sun)

Brown believes Celtic will need to be on their guard this weekend because Rangers are proving they are a better side without Barton. (The Scotsman)

Rangers captain Lee Wallace admits Celtic are "100% better" than the last time the teams met at Hampden, but vowed the Ibrox men can still hurt their fierce rivals. (Daily Mail)

Wallace dismissed suggestions that Rangers are still traumatised by their punishing 5-1 loss at Celtic Park six weeks ago. (The Times)

Leigh Griffiths has pleaded for the chance to go on the rampage against Rangers by playing alongside Moussa Dembele. (Daily Record)

The Celtic striker is convinced Gordon Strachan is the right man to lead Scotland to Russia in 2018, despite the furore over whether his lack of height cost him the chance to start against Lithuania and Slovakia. (The Herald)

Scott Brown got the better of Joey Barton in their only Old Firm meeting

Griffiths says talk of Strachan leaving his post as Scotland manager is "madness". (Daily Mail)

Alan Archibald insists he has unfinished business at Partick Thistle after being linked with the vacant Shrewsbury Town position, but admits he intends to manage in England in the future. (Daily Mail)

Neil Lennon has launched a passionate defence of his Hibernian predecessor Alan Stubbs, describing his dismissal by Rotherham after just 14 games in charge as "ridiculous". (The Scotsman)

OTHER GOSSIP

Scottish Rugby bosses admitted attracting outside investment into their two pro teams is "high risk" and a "tough sell" but chief executive Mark Dodson insisted he'd be "damned if we don't try". (The Scotsman)

Barry McGuigan is convinced Josh Taylor will be red hot at the top because of his ice-cold character. The Edinburgh boxer is bidding to land his first senior title tonight when he faces England's Dave Ryan at Meadowbank. (Daily Record)

Henry Pyrgos says the Glasgow Warriors players "will focus on our jobs" as they prepare to face Munster in an emotional encounter on Saturday, less than a week after the sudden death of the Irish side's coach Anthony Foley. (The Times)