WARBS MY MISTAKE
Mark Warburton has admitted he was wrong to drop Rangers ace Andy Halliday – and says the midfielder is a role model to others at Ibrox.
Warburton left fans’ favourite Halliday out of his team for away games at Kilmarnock and Celtic – despite being a stand-out for Gers last season.
The 24-year-old was bombed as his gaffer opted to play Joey Barton as a midfield pivot but it backfired badly.
Rangers toiled at Rugby Park, escaping with a 1-1 draw, and were then hammered 5-1 in the Old Firm derby at Parkhead.
In the aftermath, a training ground bust-up
between Halliday and Barton resulted in the Englishman being suspended by the club for three weeks.
Warburton then made Halliday captain for a Betfred Cup tie against Queen of the South and has tipped him for a Scotland call-up.
Now, the Ibrox boss has confessed it was a mistake to omit Halliday and – in a thinly veiled dig at Barton – claims the Glaswegian is an example to Rangers’ youngsters.
Warburton said: “When we leave people out it’s never personal, it’s only professional.
“With Andy we made what we thought was the right decision against Kilmarnock and Celtic. In hindsight, it wasn’t the right decision. There’s no doubt that when Andy pulls on a shirt there is no more passionate player for Rangers.
“He is a role model to the other players here.”
Meanwhile Gers No. 2 Davie Weir believes Niko Kranjcar is close to peak form and fitness after the Croat kick-started his season with a stand-out display against Thistle.
He said: “From day one the manager has said that Niko is catching up. He’s a top level player. You don’t play 80 times for Croatia, play in World Cups and Euros without having ability.”