Warburton is happy to have bench options

MARK WARBURTON claims Rangers’ strength can be judged by looking at their bench.

The Ibrox boss has been busy recruiting new players this summer and is delighted with his recruits.

However, he is still working out his best 11 to start the new season.

The Englishman said: “In the back of your mind, you have some ideas but you need to trust all the players.

“The most pleasing thing for me is the bench.

“That might sound bizarre but if you look over your shoulder and you have options, that’s good.

“Against Annan last week, we had Wes Foderingham, James Tavernier. Danny Wilson, Jason Holt, Harry Forrester, Joey Barton and Kenny Miller. That was our bench.

“On Friday night, we brought on Nico Kranjcar and Joe Dodoo.

“Sometimes if you have a squad of 23, you think: ‘I have 14 players, what’s the point of the rest?’ Then you use the academy boys.

“We had what we had last season and they were young boys. This year, we need to trust them all.

“People probably thought we were making a statement at the Scottish Cup Final when we didn’t fill the bench.

“We weren’t. We had no other players because we couldn’t use the loan boys who had come back.

“This season, it is a pleasant change – we have options all over the park.

“You need to trust them all, otherwise don’t have them at the club.

“Josh Windass has shown his quality, Jordan Rossiter is getting fantastic feedback with England Under19s and is keeping good players out of the team.

“The players are buying into the fact that it’s one team. It’s not about individuals.”

However, it looks like some players will have to be patient this season.

Warburton is not a fan of changing a winning team and won’t change that view if his troops rack up victories from the off.

He said: “I don’t mind players banging on the door. Communication is great.

“But I don’t want a player asking why they aren’t playing if we have won every game.We need to get that right.

“Dom Ball was a young loanee from Spurs last season and was so frustrated at not playing at the start.

“After a game against Morton, he chapped the door and asked: ‘Why am I not playing?’ I replied: ‘Because we’ve played 11 and won 11.’

“But when his chance came, he was ready. You saw what he did.

“He played magnificently well against Celtic in a defensive midfield role and he’s a great example to other players.

“Whenever the chance comes, you have to be ready.”