HODSON ‘NOT JUST MAKING UP THE NUMBERS’

MARK WARBURTON has warned marathon men Lee Wallace and James Tavernier their places in the Rangers team are under threat from new signing Lee Hodson. The two full-backs played every single minute of last season but Warburton has provided more competition in defence by signing 24-year-old Hodson, who can play at left and rightback. Hodson, who worked under Warburton at Watford and Brentford, impressed while on loan at Kilmarnock last season from MK Dons. And the Ibrox boss has told Wallace and Tavernier the Northern Ireland international hasn’t arrived simply to sit on the bench. ‘All credit to Tav and Lee for playing every minute of every game last season,’ said Warburton (right). ‘That’s testament to their fitness and hard work. ‘But Lee Hodson has not come here just to make up the numbers. He’s an international player and he wants to play. ‘There’s no doubt he will push those guys really hard. Tav and Lee Wallace will know there’s a challenge. ‘But while the public perception can be that players don’t want new signings coming in because they want to keep their shirt, in reality it doesn’t work that way. ‘The better players want new players coming in. They want competition. They want to be challenged. They want to feel that every day in training counts. ‘From the very first day (new goalkeeper) Matt Gilks came into training, we saw a positive reaction from Wes Foderingham right away. ‘That’s what we want. ‘I’ve been watching Niko Kranjcar in training and he looks excellent. ‘Niko will put pressure on Andy Halliday and Jason Holt in midfield. ‘And, with Jordan Rossiter and Harry Forrester, we have good options now.’ Warburton was surprised Hodson hasn’t been playing regularly in the English Championship or higher. He believes his eighth summer signing has character and talent and will settle easily into the Ibrox dressing room. ‘I’ve known Lee Hodson since he was 11,’ said Warburton. ‘He was initially a wide right player but we put him to rightback and he got a game for Watford in the Championship at 18 then international recognition followed. ‘I was amazed Lee was not still playing at English Championship level — or even higher. ‘But I saw his impact at Kilmarnock last season. ‘He made his debut against us at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup and acquitted himself very well. ‘He’s played in Scottish football before which is good but he’s also played at a good level with Watford. ‘He’s quick, attackminded and has great delivery. He is tenacious and has a low centre of gravity. ‘We are absolutely delighted to get him in. He will be a really good signing for us. He’s been used to playing at big grounds at a young age and has dealt well with that challenge. ‘I had a coffee with Kenny Miller yesterday and he was saying the unity in the dressing room is excellent. ‘We wouldn’t do anything to damage that. Lee has great character, his work ethic is outstanding and he is a really level-headed guy. Lee will do well here.’ Warburton, meanwhile, is continuing his hunt for a new striker to ease the burden on Martyn Waghorn but a bid to land former Crystal Palace and Jamaica defender Adrian Mariappa has stalled.