Kris Boyd has claimed the away fan lockout in matches between Celtic and Rangers "hindered" the Ibrox club more.

The former Rangers striker reckons the return of away allocations for the derby matches this season - in a smaller European-style capacity - is a huge boost for Scottish football.

Celtic and Rangers agreed to see the return of away fans at both grounds this season with 5 per cent of the stadium allocated to the visiting side.

For Boyd, the move is crucial and only serves to improve the product - but the pundit then suggested Rangers suffered more through the away fan exclusion period.

On Sky Sports, he said: "It's crucial for Scottish football. There's nothing worse when you turn up to your biggest game and there's no away fans there.

"I think it's hindered Rangers more than Celtic to be honest.  You go back to the first game at Ibrox last year. The place was bouncing and then all of a sudden Celtic scored and the Rangers fans vented their anger on the pitch.

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"They had nowhere else to go with it so at least if there's fans in there, they can have the banter between each other, as long as it's friendly banter shall we say!"

Celtic hero Chris Sutton was similarly pleased by the decision to allow away fans back into the derby fixtures as he recalled the "demolition derby" where he enjoyed a 6-2 win over Rangers.

"It's massively important," he said. "This has been going on for too long. This is one of the biggest fixtures in world football. It was more a shame on Scottish football that away fans weren't allowed in because the fixture is better for away fans.

"I remember my first Celtic-Rangers game, the demolition derby where we beat Rangers 6-2, just walking out the tunnel and hearing both sets of fans, I still think about that. It was probably the best atmosphere I've ever played in. So it's great to see and the game is better for away fans in."