THE POWER RANGERS
Trio set to pack a punch at Ibrox
They are not here to finish third or fourth
THE impending reunion of Niko Kranjcar, Clint Hill and Joey Barton at Rangers is unlikely to spark a frenzy of misty-eyed nostalgia among the trio any time soon.
Last ensconced together at Loftus Road in 2014-15, the three were unable to prevent newly promoted Queens Park Rangers immediately going back from whence they came as they returned to the Championship with something of a thud.
By the time that abject attempt to consolidate in the Premier League had arrived at its grim conclusion, Harry Redknapp had long since stepped aside, with caretaker Chris Ramsey left to carry the can for a dismal total of 30 points and a 20th-place finish.
Yet, as bleak as the experience was for followers of the London version of Rangers, for one impressionable young Scot, a season of little cheer only served to enhance his admiration for the way three players — soon to be of this parish — conducted themselves on and off the park.
And, in the eyes of Dundee United defender Coll Donaldson, who moved from Livingston to QPR in 2014, Rangers have snared a trio of talents and personalities capable of elevating the club to title-challenging territory next term.
‘I trained and played with Joey, Niko and Clint,’ recalled Donaldson. ‘When we were playing, Joey was in the changing room riling everyone up but it was a joint effort with Clint because they are both Scousers and they are mates. They ran the dressing room together and it’s quite bizarre they’ve ended up in the same place.
‘It will be a strong changing room next year at Rangers.’
If the acquisition of two tried and tested dressing-room lieutenants has clearly been part of Mark Warburton’s thinking, first and foremost the players have been signed on the basis of what they can offer on the field of play.
That annus horribilis in north London may have raised question marks about the ability of Barton — in particular — to still perform in his 30s, but last season’s displays in the colours of Burnley went a long way to putting the argument to bed.
‘Last year, he was in the team of the Championship and he will bring a wealth of experience to Rangers and quality as well,’ added Donaldson.
‘It’s gone under the radar how good a player he is. I saw him first hand and saw how good he is and I think he’s a brilliant signing for Rangers. It’s great for them that they’ve been able to persuade him to come up the road and try his hand at this.’
Barton is, without question, a colourful addition to Scottish football’s landscape. Far from being some kind of troublesome motor mouth behind the scenes, though, Donaldson’s experience of him as a person was nothing but positive.
‘Joey was always one of the guys you could speak to,’ he explained. ‘He would never shy away from you, he would never ignore you and was never an arrogant guy.
‘He is very confident in his own ability, as you can probably tell with what he says. But he’s a really nice guy when you speak to him and he’ll be good for the younger ones.’
So what of his propensity for rattling cages? Most notably — before a ball has even been kicked — that of Celtic skipper Scott Brown who Barton claims ‘isn’t in my league’.
‘I think that’s just what he thinks,’ said Donaldson. ‘He’s one of these guys that just says what he thinks.
‘It’ll build up the first Old Firm game of the season. It will be a flash point and what everyone looks at.’
While Barton is perhaps equally as renowned for his bold public proclamations as he is for his ability with a ball at his feet, Hill is no shrinking violet either.
Four months short of his 38th birthday, Donaldson foresees the defender’s vast experience being regularly imparted to the younger members of Warburton’s squad.
‘Clint’s probably one of the best professionals I’ve ever seen first hand,’ he continued. ‘He’s 37 but he’ll train every day and be in the gym after training every day.
‘He’s a really good leader, he knows what it is about and he’ll be a good link between the playing staff and the coaching staff if he comes in as a player-coach.
‘He’s a really approachable guy and he’ll be good for them.’
It’s expected that the final member of the Loftus Road old boys’ club will put pen to paper this week.
At just 31, Kranjcar is very much the baby of the three and Donaldson believes he should still have the wherewithal to make a telling impact in the Scottish game.
‘Niko is brilliant in terms of his ability, he’s up there with the best I’ve seen,’ he said.
‘His ability is brilliant and if he’s able to show half of it then he’ll do really, really well for Rangers.’
With Josh Windass, Matt Crooks and Jordan Rossiter already on board, no one can accuse the Ibrox hierarchy of failing to give it a go this summer.
For Donaldson the intention of the men from Ibrox is as clear as day.
‘I don’t think Joey, Clint and Niko will be coming to Rangers to finish third or fourth, they’ll be coming to win the league,’ he explained.
‘Joey is the most important one out of the three of them and if he has the season he had last year, then Rangers will be a very tough side to beat.’