Warburton’s reputation working wonders for Rangers’ recruitment
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The high esteem in which Mark Warburton is held amongst his contemporaries has seen Rangers given a number of added boosts this term, according to England Under 20s manager Keith Downing.
The Glasgow outfit have managed to bring in a trio of youth internationals to their squad for the 2015-16 campaign, and have seen them play an integral part of their table-topping, 100 per cent start to the season.
“Mark has got a great reputation down here and clubs respect how he works. They are obviously comfortable to have their players playing under Mark,” Downing told the Evening Times.
“We play Under-21 football down here and while I think it is important to bridge the gap between academy football and first team football, it doesn’t have the realism it has in playing first team football.”
The Gers have secured the services of England U20s Nathan Oduwa and Dominic Ball from Tottenham and Arsenal’s USA youth star Gedion Zelalem to Ibrox this term and it has worked wonders.
The former has featured in eight of their nine Ladbrokes Championship successes so far this term, providing an assist in his side’s 4-0 victory over Morton last month.
He has also delivered playing for the Young Lions, playing a major part in their recent triumphs over Holland and Turkey.
Warburton was able to use his contacts south of the border when he was at Brentford, bringing in the likes of Alex Pritchard from Tottenham, and the duo of Jon Toral and Chuba Akpom from Arsenal as the Bees pushed from back-to-back promotions.
The 53-year-old will be hoping his loan dealings this time round can secure what is looking ever more likely to be a return to the big time next term.
Such has been their dominance that league sponsors Ladbrokes make them a 1/100 chance to lift the trophy next May, while top-goalscorer Martyn Waghorn looks unlikely to yield his hold on pole position for the Golden Boot as a 1/10 chance.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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