Joey Barton only set to meet Rangers team-mates a week before new season

Joey Barton may not meet his new Rangers team-mates until a week before the Ibrox side's first game of the season.

Mark Warburton's team return for pre-season training on Saturday before jetting out to the United States for a 12-day training camp on June 27.

However, reports on Thursday claimed the midfielder would miss the transatlantic trip because he would have difficulty obtaining a visa as a result of his criminal record.

But Clyde Sport understands the former Burnley battler always planned to check in to Murray Park on July 1, the official start date on his Ibrox contract.

Barton, who has flown from France to Ireland after working as a pundit for talkSPORT during the opening days of Euro 2016, has a number of pre-arranged media commitments to fulfil before he heads back to Glasgow.

Gers boss Warburton is satisfied with the situation, though, especially as Barton - who was named the Clarets player of the year as helped Sean Dyche's team to the SkyBet Championship title - has been working out on his own since leaving Turf Moor.

But it does mean that the earliest the 33-year-old former Manchester City, Newcastle, QPR and Marseille player could meet up with his new colleagues is July 8, when they return from the States.

That would leave him just eight days to get to know his team-mates and adjust to Warburton's attacking brand of play before the Light Blues open the new campaign with their first Betfred Cup group-stage clash against Motherwell at Fir Park on May 16.

Barton is likely to join up with the club's youth side while the first team are in the US.

Meanwhile, the ex-England midfielder will get the chance to say his farewells to his former Burnley team-mates next month after Rangers confirmed they would host the Barclays Premier League new boys in a pre-season clash at Ibrox on July 30.

It is the second year running the English outfit have travelled north after claiming a 1-0 friendly win 12 months ago.

The match will also give the Gers faithful the chance to see Barton's fellow summer signings Matt Crooks, Josh Windass and Jordan Rossiter in action in for the first time.

Warburton said: "Burnley were very welcome visitors a year ago and gave us an enormously beneficial test for the season ahead.

"We look forward to again welcoming Sean Dyche, his staff and players for what we know will be a very tough challenge, but one that helps both teams prepare for their respective campaigns."

Gers have already announced they will be taking on United Soccer League side Charleston Battery on July 6 during their American trip to Charleston, South Carolina.