Former Rangers ace talks up Old Firm atmosphere as he claims English players would jump at Celtic or Rangers chance

Josh Windass praised the SPFL and said plenty of English players would like to move north

Ex-Rangers midfielder Josh Windass has defended Scottish football and reckons the atmosphere at games involving Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs better than in England.

The 26-year-old is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Wigan Athletic.

Since returning to England from Rangers in August 2018, Windass has sought to talk up the SPFL to English team-mates who look down on the game north of the border.

Josh Windass has defended the SPFL. Picture: SNS

He has faced accusations of Scottish football being ‘pub league’ football but the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, and the pressure playing for such a big team as aspects of the game he misses.

Windass, who made the move to Ibrox from Accrington Stanley in 2016, also reckons there are a number of players who would jump at the chance to swap England for either Celtic or Rangers despite their protestations and criticisms of the standard.

“The atmosphere is way better in Scotland, especially the Old Firm and even Hibs and Hearts away,” he told Open Goal. “Better atmosphere than down in England, 100 per cent.

“I’ve had so many arguments with boys in English teams about Scotland and the standard. The English boys have no idea. They just think it’s a pub league.

He added: “They would all sign for Rangers or Celtic at the drop of a hat if they could.

“They all say it’s c**p. ‘You only scored in Scotland. Scotland this, Scotland that’. But if they had a chance to go they would 100 per cent go. All of them.”