Oduwa ‘bemused’ by the rainbow flick backlash

MARK WARBURTON revealed that Nathan Oduwa was ‘gob-smacked’ after being criticised for attempting a two-footed rainbow flick against Alloa on Sunday. The on-loan Spurs winger came off the bench in Rangers’ 5-1 win at the Indodrill Stadium and attempted to beat Wasps full-back Colin Hamilton with the outrageous piece of skill. Hamilton later accused the 19-year-old of being disrespectful and warned that other defenders in the Championship wouldn’t let him away with it. Warburton insists Oduwa was amazed at the attention the incident brought but says his player is at liberty to try the trick again if circumstances are right. ‘He’s a bit bemused, if I’m being honest,’ said the Rangers boss. ‘He’s still a young guy. He has seen himself splashed all over the back pages of newspapers. That

wouldn’t happen down south but he now knows it’s different here. He was gob-smacked this morning. I had to put my arm around his shoulder and say: “It’s testament to your skill and endeavour — so keep on doing the right thing”. ‘He was most concerned and his first comment was that there was no lack of respect. ‘It’s just a young player playing his football with a purpose in front of a passionate away support. I can’t believe some of the comments that have been made, to be honest.’ Warburton’s new-look side have scored 17 goals in their first four competitive matches this season and the manager is keen to continue to ramp up the entertainment value in the future — with Oduwa cleared to try his party-piece again if the moment arises. ‘I’d always encourage him — but in the final third,’ the Rangers boss added. ‘You can take risks in the final third and he was aware of the area of the pitch he was in, so I was really pleased with the impact he made.’ Warburton opted not to hit back at Hibs boss Alan Stubbs’ claim that Rangers had made one last-ditch attempt to persuade Scott Allan to dig in for a move to Ibrox. Allan was paraded as a Celtic player yesterday after Rangers failed with three bids to dislodge him from Hibs. Warburton said: ‘We have acted with integrity throughout the whole saga. So we won’t lower ourselves now. ‘I only want players here who want to play for Rangers.’ Warburton hopes to add one new face to his squad but that player will not be Haris Vuckic. Reports in Slovenia claimed the player was set to sever his ties at Newcastle, with Rangers — where he spent part of last season — the frontrunners for his signature. But Warburton stated: ‘That wouldn’t be an option for us.’