In just a few weeks time the annual wait will be over, with FIFA 16 set to be snatched hastily from store shelves, grabbed from letterboxes or downloaded in eager anticipation. Of course the main focus of the game is the players, and we all want to know who are the best and just how ratings have changed over the course of the past 12 months. Well, luckily the good people at EA Sports have been drip-feeding us eager gamers some nuggets of information in the shape of a countdown of the best of the best… And here are numbers 20 to 11…

20) Philipp Lahm

Bayern’s star full-back/holding midfielder remains one of the best around.

19) Luka Modric

The Croatian’s metronomic passing earns him an 87 rating.

18) Mesut Ozil

Arsenal’s German playmaker maintains his slot at the upper end of the game’s rankings.

17) Sergio Ramos

One of the better centre-backs around, as reflected by a cool 87 overall rating.

16) Cesc Fabregas

His recent form hasn’t dropped Fabregas down the pecking order. 90 for passing is truly impressive.

15) Jerome Boateng

Physically imposing, Boateng comes at No.15 with an 87 rating.

14) Toni Kroos

81 and 88 for shooting and passing respectively should make Kroos one to get.

13) James Rodriguez

The Colombian is once again one of the best ‘line of three’ players for Real Madrid.

12) Sergio Aguero

89 for pace and 87 for shooting… Aguero will be lethal.

11) Andres Iniesta

Still one of the best in the business. His champagne style will surely be reflected by his 88 rating.

Numbers 10-1 are set to be released today… CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL

Despite new boss Jurgen Klopp stating he won’t return to former club Borussia Dortmund in order to poach their star players, Liverpool fans must be in dreamland merely at the prospect of such a notion. With all the toing and froing that goes on in modern transfer deals, it really isn’t out of the realms of possibility that the next two transfer windows could see some Dortmund stars follow their former boss to Anfield.

That is not to say the likes of Matts Hummels and Marco Reus will be wearing the famous all red kit next year, but the Merseyside giants still have an allure, an attraction when attracting top talents. With even Bayern Munich superstar Thomas Muller describing Premier League pay packets as ‘very tempting’, it’s beginning to look like Liverpool could indeed be an attractive proposition.

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Obviously, a World Cup winning centre-back in Hummels or a lethal wide man like Reus would be any manager’s dream, but there’s another name in play at the Westfalenstadion that would suit the Reds down to the ground.

His name is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and he’s in thrilling form.

The 26-year old Gabon international has gone from strength to strength since arriving in Germany from Saint-Etienne, proving himself to be one of the most effective forwards in Europe – netting a stunning 14 goals in 14 games this season.

He’s one of the speediest players in the modern game, tied with Arjen Robben as having the fastest recorded sprint on a football pitch. However, the former AC Milan youngster possess the technical ability to either cut inside and run at a terrified defence, or peel off the back of the last defender to run through on goal.

Often, jet heeled forwards in the mould of the Dortmund man are labelled as ‘speed merchants’, players who simply run fast in straight lines and don’t really know how to play football. Think early years Theo Walcott.

That can’t be applied to Aubameyang, who’s a very intelligent player. His understanding of ferocious forward play allows him to play across the front line, often being deployed as a lone front man but equally as comfortable on either wing.

His link up play with Robert Lewandowski in their only season for Dortmund was fantastic. The two combined time and time again, breaking through compact defences with intricate passing and movement, and utilising the Gabon forward’s electric pace to devastating effect.

With the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino currently calling Anfield home, the Brazilian duo could be the schemers plotting to release the 26-year old. Since the departure of Raheem Sterling, the Reds have lacked an extra dimension as an alternative to some single-paced possession.

Only Jordon Ibe offers a natural wide option in the squad currently, and in a Liverpool side struggling for goals, the Dortmund man could be the best of both worlds.

Either Daniel Sturridge or Christian Benteke can be the focal point of the Reds’ attack, and though neither are in the same class as Lewandowski, the potency of their potential link up play is a mouth-watering prospect.

Much has been made about Klopp’s ‘heavy metal’ philosophy, and a move for Aubameyang could provide the relevant volume to get opposing defenders head banging.

Without such a player, this ‘heavy metal’ project could go down like a led zeppelin.

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Believe it or not, we’re now already ten games into the new Premier League season. As expected,ÂGameweekÂ10Âthrew up yet another roundÂof exciting, dramatic and unpredictableÂfixtures.Indeed, yesterday we saw West Ham record a shock 2-1 againstÂChelsea and Arsenal assert their over dominance Everton by the same scoreline, whilst today’s action included two local derbies and Jurgen Klopp’s first Premier League home match in charge of Liverpool.Newcastle United and Sunderland squared off in a firey but eventually one-sided Tyne-Wear derby, the Black Cats recordingÂthree goals and three points following a Fabricio Coloccini red card just before half-time.The Manchester derby saw City and United partake in an intriguing and high-intensity yet inevitably goalless affair at Old Trafford, leaving Liverpool and Southampton to provide some much-needed entertainment to finish of the weekend with a 1-1 Anfield draw, courtesy of late goals from Christian Benteke and Sadio Mane.As per usual, the Premier League action put Twitter into a frenzy of vines, gifs, memes and general bantz. Just in case you missed it, we’ve compressed some of their best into our Social Media Gallery for Gameweek 10!

SHERWOOD SACKED

The biggest story of the day was Aston Villa giving Tim Sherwood a not-so-gentle shove towards the job centre. Some questioned whether it was due to his complicated tactics…

Whilst others questioned his method of opening doors…

Another tough day at the office for Wayne Rooney

Perhaps feeling the after effects of a few secret celebratory shandy and lemonades after turning 30 yesterday, it was another difficult afternoon for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

And to make matters worse, he had to get his head stapled back together after this nasty gash…

KANE BACK IN FORM

Tottenham’s Harry Kane silenced his critics today with a hat-trick in a 5-1 over Bournemouth, leading to much rejoicing from Spurs fans on Twitter.

SOME PEOPLE JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND FOOTBALL

Urgh. As if Drake’s bet hedging wasn’t bad enough, this idiot turned up at Sunderland again today…

DULL DERBY

Neither side particularly disappointed in the Manchester derby but neither side were great either. In fact, United failed to record a shot in the first half for the first time since OPTA began over ten years ago.

To make matters worse, Spurs were enjoying an untelevised six-goal thriller against Bournemouth.

Stoke City’s revolutionary change under Mark Hughes has had everyone utterly bewildered at the aesthetically pleasing football we are now being graced with.

Since the signings of Marc Muniesa and Marko Arnautovic, Stoke are no longer the hoof-ball side that they were under Tony Pulis, so infamously.

These days, the Potters are about direct diagonals and intricate interchange in the final third where we see Xherdan Shaqiri (no, I still can’t believe it either) and Bojan (who was once better than Messi) dribbling in a fashion that was probably not the in repertoire of Rory Delap.

This could be a significant January for Hughes’ Potters. The ex-Man City boss has ambitions of bringing European football to the Potteries and this season may well be the best chance they will ever get.

With shortages in central midfield and for someone to lead the line, Stoke could become a regular top 8 force with a strong January window.

Here is there complete dream XI for the end of this window…

Jack Butland

Jack Butland has, by most people’s recognition, been the best goalkeeper in the PL this season.

Butland, according to Stoke fans, should be England’s number one and he has definitely done all he can to push Joe Hart for the number one jersey.

When the loss of Asmir Begovic might have been a worry for the Potters, Butland has put in a string of magnificent performances through the first half of the season and the Bosnian now seems a distant memory.

Glen Johnson

He might have become a figure of fun during the last season or two at Liverpool, but Glen Johnson has resurrected his career at Stoke and been one of the best signings of the year.

The former Chelsea and West Ham man has never lost his power and pace, but there have been far fewer defensive errors during this season and he is more than a capable overlapping force down the right flank.

Ryan Shawcross

Since his return from injury, Stoke’s talisman has been back to his solid best and the Potters’ captain is still dreaming of the call for Euro 2016.

Centre-back is one of the weaker areas in the current Stoke squad, but there is always a calm atmosphere around the back line when this man is available.

Much like the effect John Terry has upon Chelsea, Shawcross is crucial to the way that the Potters defend and its hard to see how they would survive too long without him.

Alex

Recruiting a player from AC Milan as Stoke City boss would’ve been laughable just 5 years ago, but there’s an argument to say that Stoke are actually in a better position than the Italian giants right now.

Although Wollscheid and Muniesa have done decent jobs in central defence, the European experience and class of this Brazilian veteran would be a vital addition to the Stoke defence and another hard-as-nails influence alongside Shawcross.

Some fans might see this move as short-term planning, but Alex is comfortable playing from the back and would fit nicely into Stokealona.

Erik Pieters

Pieters has been a marked improvement on any previous Stoke left-back since his signing and he continues to provide solidity defensively and an extra attacking threat as he overlaps.

The Dutchman is secure in his position as the starting full-back and has adequate cover from Marc Muniesa if he is ever unavailable.

Giannelli Imbula

Imbula impressed people across the whole of Europe during his time at Porto and the defensive midfielder would be the perfect upgrade on Glenn Whelan.

Whilst the rest of the Stoke squad is built for a new style of free flowing football, Imbula can hold the fort defensively and provide strong cover for Shawcross and Alex.

Jonjo Shelvey

Due to Swansea’s under performance, Shelvey is a player this may well be looking for a move this January and he would be the perfect blend of physicality and passing range to fit into Stoke’s midfield.

Marco van Ginkel has given varied performances in central midfield, and is due to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, whilst Charlie Adam is best left unspoken of.

Shelvey has the grit to provide cover in front of the defence but his eye for goal and all round good engine would make him an excellent support man.

Xherdan Shaqiri

One of the shock signing’s of last summer was seeing this former Bayern man move to the Potteries, but the Swiss star has begun to find his feet over the last few weeks and has become a truly dominating threat down the right wing.

Nicely assisted by Glen Johnson, Shaqiri is beginning to humiliate full-backs and produced one of the individual displays of the season as the Potters beat Manchester City.

Bojan

Once dubbed to be even better than Lionel Messi, Bojan has begun to resurrect his career with Stoke.

The talented Spaniard has played a few games as a false nine of late, but he is at his best when operating off of a main striker.

Hughes needs to be careful not to overwork his main creator, so rotation will be key as Stoke push for European football.

Marko Arnautovic

He might be renowned as a difficult man to manage, but Arnautovic has shown himself in a new light during this campaign.

The Austrian winger has contributed several key goals and has shown a level of work-rate that many did not believe he had in him. Seeing the ex-Inter man chasing back to his own third to win the ball back and start a counter-attack has shocked many, but it is a testament to the excellent managerial work by Mark Hughes.

Loic Remy

Loic Remy’s disappointing time at Chelsea might be coming to an end this January and Stoke would be well advised to go after the ex-QPR striker.

With one of the best goal-per-minute ratios you are likely to find, the flying Frenchman would stretch defences and create space for Bojan to play in.

As well as Diouf has done for the Potters, Remy would be a significant upgrade.

Newcastle, like several clubs seemed to do this window, managed to strengthen all of their squad apart from the weakest area.

The Magpies are clearly a defensively weak squad, but McClaren decided it would make sense to invest all of his money in reinforcing the midfield and attacking options in the squad.

Seydou Doumbia was the Magpies biggest addition, in terms of European-wide reputation, in this window and the ex-CSKA Moscow forward has joined the club on loan until the end of the campaign.

Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez have both struggled to regularly find the net and with the assistance of Wijnaldum, Townsend and Sissoko, the St James’ Park faithful will hope that this striker can give their squad an extra threat in the final third.

Where other managers might have added some defensive backup options, there is almost something to admire about McClaren trying to just out score the opponents.

Here are FIVE things you might not know about Doumbia..

Faster than light…

Unlike Mitrovic, Doumbia is absolutely rapid.

A FIFA star for many editions of the game, this striker will cause endless problems running off the shoulder of defenders.

Swiss league star

As quite a journeyman star, Doumbia really made his name in the Swiss League with Young Boys.

The African striker lit the league up and he bagged 57 goals in just 78 appearances.

Award winner in 2011

Whilst winning almost everything there is to win in Russia, Doumbia picked up the Russian Player of the Year award in December 2011.

CSKA Moscow had a period of dominance and their striker’s relentless goal scoring was pivotal.

Champions League form..

There will be those of you that claim Doumbia is just a flat-track bully, unfortunately this won’t wash.

The Ivorian has netted 16 goals in a mere 23 CL appearances.

Adapting with ease

One thing about a player that has moved so often, and succeeded, is that they can clearly adapt to moving homes, changing lifestyles and living in different cultures.

Another underwhelming season, another summer transfer window, another rebuild at Liverpool.

Practically ever since the Premier League’s incarnation in 1992, Liverpool have transitioned from one team failing to meet expectations to another at considerable cost in the transfer market, but that trend has escalated drastically under owner John W. Henry and of course, the Reds’ much-maligned transfer committee.

Indeed, from the start of the 2010/11 campaign, in which Henry took ownership around three months in, the Reds have spent nearly £435million on 53 players, only 24 of which have not since been sold or are currently out on loan, whilst parting with a whopping 78. That’s an enormous turnover of playing personnel when compared to those who consistently finish above Liverpool in the Premier League table – the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United – and has surely caused more problems than it’s solved.

After all, can any club expect consistent success without continuity in the first team squad? Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolorov were some of City’s earliest investments following the Sheikh takeover, the vast majority of Arsenal’s FA Cup-winning Champions League guarantors have been with the club for four years or more, and the Class of ’92 served as a bedrock for United’s dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Yet, with a new manager at the helm in Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool are already preparing for a summer overhaul – in fact, they’ve already made one signing in Bosman recruit, Joel Matip.

That’s in some ways inevitable and certainly not unexpected; most fresh appointments work cart blanche during their inaugural summer window, liquefying the squad before remoulding it in their own image, and Klopp’s reputation from his Bundesliga-winning tenure at Dortmund obliges the Liverpool hierarchy to allow him such freedom. Signings like Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic, Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski tell all about the Liverpool gaffer’s eye for a promising talent.

But Liverpool’s approach in the transfer market remains obvious. Perhaps a symptom of the committee, composed of five men who all have their own ideas on potential signings as well as the manager, perhaps because the Reds have found themselves excluded from the top end of the transfer market over the last decade, the Merseysiders have consistently favoured quantity over quality.

There is some logic to that way of thinking. After all, if you can’t afford Mesut Ozil’s £42million transfer fee and enormous wages, why not buy three players who have been tipped to become the next Mesut Ozil at a cost of £10million each, pay them considerably less and hope at least one eventually lives up to their heralded potential?

But Liverpool are trapped in a cycle that needs to be broken if they’re going to battle their way back to regular Champions League football, even if it comes at the expense of success during Klopp’s first full season in charge. Indeed, the coming transfer window is the one in which quality must begin to take precedent for Liverpool.

After all, despite condemnation otherwise from the media, the current Liverpool roster is by no means incapable. James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge provide the basis for a strong starting XI that could realistically contend for fourth spot, although the back five admittedly requires a significant makeover.

Once again, however, that doesn’t have to take place in a single transfer window. Although the pressure for success remains relentless in the Premier League, patience in the transfer market will pay off for Liverpool with Klopp at the helm. The German gaffer offers that pull factor Brendan Rodgers always lacked and given time, will be able attract those ‘marquee’ names that relentlessly evaded his predecessor.

No doubt, Klopp too will feel the pressure to make wholesale changes this summer. A number of players, Christian Benteke being the predominant example, seem incompatible with the philosophy he’s brought from Borussia Dortmund. But evolution can be more effective than revolution when executed properly and revolution thus far, at least in terms of playing personnel, has only seen Liverpool drift further away from top tier European football.

With a top-class manager finally at the helm and a reported £100million budget at his disposal, it’s time for Liverpool to concentrate their recruitment on individuals who will unquestionably improve the starting XI, rather than inflating the squad with speculative gambles.

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The inevitable has at last happened. Nestled in among the England vs. Netherlands game last night, Aston Villa announced their parting of ways with Remi Garde, ending one of the worst manager/club link-ups in the history of English football.

Don’t get us wrong, the Frenchman is not a bad coach, but he was always on a hiding to nothing in the Midlands, and his return of just THREE wins in all competitions is as unsurprising as it is worrying. Such a poor record leaves the trap door gaping below the Villans, and with teams such as Leeds having slid into the abyss in recent memory, who knows what’s in store at Villa Park.

This all begs the question of who would be willing to replace Garde in the hot seat. Survival this season is all but mathematically impossible, so it’s more a matter of who could return lift Villa back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

With that in mind, here are FootballFanCast’s FIVE favoured candidates.

NIGEL PEARSON

He created the blueprint for a Leicester City side that are now favourites for the Premier League title, not only guiding them through the ever-problematic Championship but also securing top flight survival with that ‘great escape’ at the end of last season.

Provided he’s backed up by similar expert recruitment at Aston Villa, Peason a pretty strong candidate for the job – especially considering he’s well-versed and well-connected in the lower tiers from spells with West Brom, Carlisle, Southampton and Hull.

Villa need to rediscover their identity and Pearson offers one of traditionally direct yet entertaining football. But the 52-year-old’s media meltdowns – particularly the ostrich rant – are hard to forget and he’s perhaps not the most exciting of appointments.

SEAN DYCHE

Sean Dyche knows the Championship like the back of his hand – he’s currently on course to achieve a second promotion in the space of three years with Burnley following their relegation from the Premier League last season.

He’s never hidden the fact the Clarets play largely attritional football, but instead lets the results speak for themselves; losing just 47 and winning 69 of his 167 games in charge at Turf Moor; and refusing to spend big upon their first season in the Premier League is already proving to be a real masterstroke.

The 44-year-old has proved his capabilities when allowed to implement a long-term plan but with his Burnley project heading back to the top flight, convincing him to quit the club this summer will take a very special offer.

GARRY MONK

Garry Monk may lack Championship experience as a manager, but he made over 100 second-tier appearances during his playing days and offers a commitment to attacking football that would provide a welcome break from the norm at Villa Park.

Indeed, former managers like Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers have helped forge the 37-year-old’s philosophy and although his Swansea tenure ended on a very sour note, they were playing some of the best football in the Premier League the year previous.

The Championship should be a breeding ground for young English managers and Monk is one of the best and most proven around at the minute. But the former defender is yet to prove he can work with players of lesser quality or build his own team – two challenges he’ll certainly face at Villa Park.

ROBERTO DI MATTEO

Roberto Di Matteo is a talented manager who offers experience at diverse levels of the game. He earned promotion from the Championship with West Bromwich Albion after impressing in League One at MK Dons and later went on to lift a Champions League title with Chelsea – followed by an unspectacular spell in charge of FC Schalke.

Currently unemployed, a return to English football would appeal to the former Italy international and although they’d be in the Championship, Aston Villa’s magnitude and reputation may be just enough to secure his services.

But Di Matteo has never quite found his level in management – whether he’s a Champions League or Championship gaffer – and in that regard represents a bit of a risk.

KARL ROBINSON

If Aston Villa are targeting a long-term appointment over a short-term fix, then they could do a lot worse than investing their time and money in MK Dons manager Karl Robinson.

The 35-year-old has been in charge of the Dons since 2010 and following a succession of play-off finishes finally secured their promotion to the Championship last season, where they are now just one point away from safety despite having the smallest wage budget in the league.

A devotion to working with young players and employing a technical style of football make Robinson all the more appealing. But lacking experience at the top end of the Championship, let alone the Premier League, Villa can’t expect instantaneous success under the Mersey-born gaffer.

When Jonjo Shelvey left Swansea for Newcastle United in the January transfer window, many believed the Toon Army were picking up a player who could make a huge difference in the relegation battle.

£12m may seem costly for an individual with a relatively chequered past, but his early showing on Tyneside suggested he was the deep-lying, pre-assist machine the club had been crying out for.

However, fast forward just over two months and see how quickly things change.

The Swans look all but certain to remain in the top tier, while the England international and his new charges are on the verge of dropping out.

Speaking of which, it’s indicative of his inconsistent nature that he’s sensationally been left OUT of the squad to play his former side in a vital game for the Toon today.

At the start of the season, he was in the England squad and pulling the strings from deep in midfield. Just before that very same campaign is over, he’s been left out by Rafa Benitez in perhaps their biggest game of the season.

Here’s how Twitter saw Shelvey-gate….

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Talk of choking is hugely unfair. Spurs haven’t been the pace setters in 2015/16 and have actually over achieved massively to even reach the point of being genuine challengers. Mauricio Pochettino has built a side of fresh-faced, fearless footballers and their brand of high-energy football has been a joy to watch.

Depth is the real problem for the Lilywhites. The stats when the players on the periphery of the squad have started don’t make for pretty reading and the lack of goalscoring alternatives when Harry Kane and Dele Alli aren’t available is a concern for any team that is hoping to compete.

The riches of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal will make this a tough transfer window for any club hoping to move for similar players, yet Spurs have the token of Champions League football to lure the players in.

Spurs have scouted excellently over the past 18 months or so and they will be determined to prove this season is not just a flash in the pan.

So, here are FIVE players that could change it all…

Marko Arnautovic

Although Stoke have spluttered in the second half of this campaign, Marko Arnautovic has been one of the few players who has continued performing.

The Austrian has a reputation for being difficult to manage, but, although he has still had his ups and downs, Hughes seems to have him firing on all cylinders.

Leading the Potters’ goalscoring charts comfortably and showing himself as a versatile left-winger, the man affectionately called ‘Arnie’ should be a top priority for Spurs. Goals from the wings haven’t come as freely as Pochettino may like and the enigmatic ex-Inter star would certainly provide that.

Javier Hernandez

Could the former Manchester United super sub return to the Premier League?

Hernandez would surely not be happy to warm Spurs’ bench, and the side would need to adapt to his style of play, but the Mexican striker would be ideal for the games when Kane needs a rest. Although he does not provide the same sort of back to goal play, Hernandez would give Pochettino a different option that may prove the difference against low block defences.

William Carvalho

Spurs seem to be one of the few top clubs that haven’t been linked with Sporting Lisbon’s powerful defensive midfielder of late.

The fee will be high, but, considering his age, Carvalho would be worth the money. The Sporting man would fit into the current profile of the Spurs squad and provide ideal competition for Eric Dier in the defensive midfield role.

Whilst others at the club can play the shielding position, none have proven themselves to be up to the standards of a title winning team.

Moussa Sissoko

One of the most inconsistent players in Europe, Sissoko is a greatly frustrating figure for the Newcastle fans.

Whether the Magpies stay up or go down, Benitez is likely to want to build a squad of more disciplined players and Sissoko is likely to be one of the first to go. Pochettino, if anyone can, could hone Sissoko’s skill base and his powerful physique, paired with his great engine, would make him perfect for Spurs’ high octane system.

A gamble, sure, but Pochettino would reap huge rewards if Sissoko could find some sort of consistency.

Idrissa Gueye

Not many industrious midfielders have come close to the performances of N’Golo Kante this season, but Gueye’s tireless running and combative play make him a sought after prospect this summer.

Leading the way in the Premier League on both interceptions and tackles per 90 (let’s ignore the superhuman Kante), Gueye has been one of the few positives in Villa’s pathetic campaign. Spurs may need extra defensive midfield bodies in tougher European games and Gueye could easily slot in to replace Dier or Dembele in the midfield.

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.

WANT MORE? >> Celtic Transfer News | Scottish Premiership News

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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