Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd insists he has no qualms about working alongside Chris Sutton, calling the Celtic great ‘one of the best pundits of recent times’.

Boyd, 39, dipped his toe into punditry for Sky Sports towards the end of his playing career before moving into a full-time role in the media once he had decided to hang up his boots.

The former Scotland internationalist and Sutton have regularly traded barbs in the media over the past few seasons as passionate supporters of their old clubs, and the two will soon be colleagues after it was announced last month that Sutton would covering Scottish football alongside Boyd at Sky Sports.

“There has been a lot made of it,” Boyd said. “At Sky we strive to get the best people on TV and I think that’s what we’ve done.

“There is no doubt that Chris Sutton, for me, is one of the best pundits of recent times.

“A lot of people might be surprised by what I am saying. There will be people who don’t want to tune in and listen to anything he says, but having listened to some of the stuff Chris has said in England I could easily sit and listen to him.

“He is brilliant. Especially at 10pm at night when you are trying to nod off to sleep!”

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Boyd might well be pleased to be working alongside Sutton but there are a fair few Rangers fans who will be less than enthralled to see the former Celtic striker regularly on their television screens.

Sutton has always been forthright when giving his take on the latest goings-on at Ibrox, and the Englishman appears to enjoy his notoriety across the Glasgow divide.

Sly digs and cheeky swipes are nothing unusual – nor are disparaging comments made by Boyd in the other direction, it should be said – but it is impossible to deny that Sutton has gleefully revelled in his role as pantomime villain of the Rangers support.

Boyd has no issues with such hijinks, though. He believes that once you sift through the bluster, you are often left with a few home truths – something that fans don’t always want to hear about their beloved team.

“It’s the only way,” Boyd said. “You are paid to do a job. You can’t turn up and say Rangers have been brilliant for the last 10 or 12 years and won plenty of trophies because it’s a lie. You would make yourself look like a fool.

“The big man knows exactly what he is doing with some things, there is no getting away from it. We know what we are doing with some things we say or do, but that’s what makes us who we are.

“Even if you cut through the BS you will realise that a lot of the stuff that’s been said has been correct. As pundits that’s all you need to do. Fans ain’t going to like it, because you are criticising their team. The reality of it is that, sometimes, that’s just the truth.”

Sky Sports and NOW will show exclusive live coverage of the cinch Premiership, with up to 48 games available this season.