New Patrick Thistle midfielder Adam Barton insists watching the big names boost Scottish football convinced him to make the move from Portsmouth.
The 25-year-old signed a three-year deal with Alan Archibald’s side on transfer deadline day after Jags paid the Fratton Park outfit an undisclosed fee to secure his services.
Barton made five appearances for Pompey at the start of the campaign but after seeing the likes of Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar and Moussa Dembele all sign for the Old Firm, the playmaker admits he had no hesitation in joining them north of the border.
He said: “It’s a completely different challenge and you have the big teams here, it’s the top league in Scotland and it seams to be growing and growing, and more and more names keep coming to the league.
“I could have stayed at Portsmouth and tried to win promotion again with them but I kind of wanted a bit of a change and I think this is the perfect challenge for me ahead.
“It’s a new challenge for me and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve never played in Scotland before so it’s going to offer a lot new challenges.”
Barton had been used in central defence by Portsmouth manager Paul Cook but admits he considers himself as an attacking midfielder
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 cap, who began his career at Preston before moving on to Coventry and then Portsmouth last summer, said: “I like to get on the ball and try and make things happen, a bit of a playmaker. I try to hunt down the ball, get it and pass. On the ball is where I’m comfortable.
“I like central midfield better, you get more of the ball there.
“Centre half is somewhere I filled in last season and the manager down at Portsmouth was very happy with me, he kept me there ever since.
“It’s good I can fill in and do both sides of the game.”
Barton is determined to help manager Archibald improve on last season’s ninth place Premiership finish.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “Patrick have been in the league three years in a row and the aim is to stay in it, but progress and get further and further up the table each year.
“With the players the manager’s signed, he looks like he’s having a right good go.”
