Our objective is Champions League. That’s why I am here
SAYS MARTYN WAGHORN
FOR the majority of Mark Warburton’s new recruits, moves to Ibrox necessitate a crash course in Scottish football.
As far as Saturday’s trip to face Hibernian in the Petrofac Cup is concerned, however, two of the more recent arrivals can already lay claim to having a reasonable working knowledge of what they will face.
Martyn Waghorn and James Tavernier, both of whom made their debuts in the friendly defeat to Burnley on Tuesday, locked horns with Alan Stubbs’ side during a workout in La Manga two weeks ago.
The result — a 2-1 win for the English s i de, with Waghorn bagging a double — may have suggested a tight affair between two evenly matched sides.
As far as the striker was concerned, however, there was little in the Edinburgh side that impressed — and far less to lose sleep over.
‘They were all right, pretty basic, to be honest,’ he said bluntly. ‘Once you cut out the main man and stop them from playing, that was it really.
‘We’ll go to the gaffer and we’ll go through our tactics. They were all right, nothing great.’
The main man just happens to be Scott Allan, a player Warburton has been repeatedly linked with since taking charge at Rangers. Would one way to counteract him be to sign him?
‘Well, the best way to cut him out i s by beating him, that’ll do,’ Waghorn insisted. ‘ Pretty much everything went through him.
‘We counteracted that and pretty much got him out of the game, but it was a different type of match over there, it was a friendly, practise match and I’m sure it will be a different challenge on Saturday.
‘We’ll take nothing for granted and we’ll have our game-plan.’
Rangers fans can only hope that Waghorn is as sharp in front of goal as he is in front of a microphone.
Clearly not inhibited by a lack of self- confidence after being signed on a three-year deal, the 25-year- old fully anticipates the return of Champions League football to Ibrox by the time his contract has run its course.
‘I hope so,’ he added. ‘ The way the club is going and the way the gaffer has got us playing, it’s a young bunch of lads with a good mix of experience and our objective is to get promoted and challenge next season.
‘That’s what everyone has got to look to do. It’s a massive club, with great players and anything less than that wi l l be a disappointment. I want to win and achieve as much as I can.
‘The objective of the club is to get back into the Champions League and I want to be part of that.
‘I want to be here for many years. I’ve got a young family and I want to settle and give my best years and, hopefully, have a f ew successful years.’
Waghorn appears to typify what Warburton looks for in a player. Upon making his debut f or Sunderland against Manchester United as a 17- year- old, he appeared to have the world at his feet, but injuries and other circumstances beyond his control have left his potential as yet largely unfulfilled.
‘I’ve had a difficult couple of years, a few loans and hoped the move to Wigan (from Leicester a year ago) would have worked out better but, with the change of manager, it’s hard,’ he reflected.
‘I had a few injuries and as a striker you want to be playing week in, week out. It’s down to me to keep my place and I know that.’
The whirlwind nature of his signing means he can be excused a less than convincing debut on Tuesday night, which saw two bread and butter scoring chances spurned in the first half.
‘I travelled up to Scotland on Monday morning, set off at six o’clock, signed, trained and then played,’ he explained.
‘I’d prefer it being like that rather than dragging out and worrying what’s going on.
‘It was a great occasion to make my debut. I’m very proud.
‘Unfortunately it was a defeat but, on a personal note, I’m happy to get my first game under my belt.
‘I know the way the gaffer wants to play, I’d seen him before at a previous club.
‘It will take some time to bed in but I felt all right. I got through on adrenaline.’
A powerful t hough mobile presence at t he head of a three - man attack, Waghorn’s experience of playing against Warburton’s Brentford si des last season meant the decision to move to Glasgow was anything but difficult.
‘They played us off the park twice home and away,’ he recalled. ‘Just the way they played, you can see that’s the way he wants us to play football: don’t be afraid to make mistakes and go out and enjoy it.
‘It’s going to be a real football season. The set of lads we’ve got here and the opportunities we’ll create, hopefully, we’ll score goals and get this team back where they belong.’
The fact Warburton was prepared to offer a three-year deal to a player few within Ibrox would have been aware of spoke volumes for the faith he has in the player.
‘I’m r eally pleased,’ said Waghorn. ‘ I’m just excited by the challenge, it’s a massive club and I’m very honoured to be part of it. Three years gives me a chance to get my head down and play my best football.’
Winning t he Petrofac Cup, remarkably still on Rangers’ ‘to do’ list after three years in t he l ower leagues, is scarcely top of their priorities.
Nonetheless, given the identity of the opposition, there’s unquestionably a psychological edge to be gained for whatever Championship rival prevail s in t he capital.
‘It’s going to be a bit strange playing them twice i n two weeks but I’m sure it will be
different circumstances,’ Waghorn added. ‘Obviously it was nice to get on the scoresheet twice. ‘It will be a massive game on Saturday and we’re well aware of the challenge. It’s the first game of the season, everyone’s raring to go, everyone’s excited. ‘Hopefully if I get the nod I can do the same.
‘Yeah definitely (it’s about laying down a marker). We are Rangers and everyone wants to come and beat us. So we’re just going to go there, play with freedom and enjoy it.
‘It’s going to set a real standard for the whole season and how we go about our job.’