Joey Barton committed to Rangers despite being banished from training ground
Joey Barton insists he remains fully committed to Rangers despite being banished from the club's training ground.
The controversial midfielder found himself at the centre of yet another controversy when he was sent home from training on Tuesday, following what is understood to have been a changing-room row with team-mate Andy Halliday and boss Mark Warburton.
He was told not to report back to Gers' Auchenhowie base until Monday - ruling him out of Saturday's Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Ross County - as Warburton called for a period of calm.
But when news of the dispute broke on Thursday afternoon, it appeared the 34-year-old's short stint at Ibrox was already over.
However, just hours after apologising for the "harsh words" he aimed at his colleagues on Twitter, he told TalkSPORT he was going nowhere.
Barton said: "I'll sit down with Warbs on Monday - that was always the plan, once the lads win on Saturday because that is the most important thing. I'll be supporting my team-mates on Saturday, that is all that matters.
"I've got to re-evaluate stuff. Now that this has happened it changes the landscape slightly.
"It's disappointing but I'm as committed to Glasgow Rangers as the day I signed. There's nothing at all that has altered me from that task.
"All I want is for Rangers to win and for us to be the best we can possibly be, on the training ground and at a match on a Saturday."
Danny Wilson returns from a calf injury in central defence and will partner Clint Hill. Rob Kiernan (ankle) drops out along with the suspended Philippe Senderos.
Striker Joe Dodoo (ankle) remains out but Matt Crooks is closer to a return from his ankle injury and could face Queen of the South in Tuesday's Betfred Cup quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Ross County midfielder Christopher Routis aims to treat his father to a memorable result at Ibrox.
The Frenchman does not get the chance to play in front of his family often after spending his career with Swiss side Servette and Bradford before joining County in the summer.
But some of them will be at Saturday's game as County make their first appearance at Ibrox.
Routis admits he looked for the dates of games at Ibrox and Celtic Park as soon as the fixtures came out in anticipation of a big day out for his family.
The Bordeaux-born central midfielder said: "When I signed and when the fixtures came out, it was the first thing I looked for. Just especially for my family because we know they are two big teams in his league, I mean like famous away from Scotland.
"So I looked it up but it was more for my family and friends. It was possibly more for the occasion because not all players have the chance to play against Celtic and Rangers.
"My family will come over to watch the game and it will be like a dream for my parents as well."
The 26-year-old added: "It's not too easy for my dad to follow my football. He can't watch all the games, so it's hard.
"But I do everything for him all the time and I organise it so he can watch games a couple of days after. The club have a good system for that, so that's nice.
"It's the same for every player who lives and plays far from his country, but it's okay.
"My family watch the games on DVD and I like that because my dad did a lot of things for me as a kid. I am really happy that he will be there on Saturday."
Source: PAR
