MARK Warburton insists his Rangers side will bring the mentality of the street fighter to the table in addition to the possession-based game he is endeavouring to instil at Ibrox.

The former Brentford manager has made clear his commitment to attacking football and an expansive 4-3-3 system, but realises there will be matches in the Ladbrokes Championship that will require a physical approach.

Warburton points out that some of the most technically-gifted players in the game in recent years, such as Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta at Barcelona, have also had a hard and combative edge.

“I am not making the comparison to Barcelona for one second, but people talk about them and Real Madrid and say they are talented players,” he said. “They are hard street fighters as well. You look at the Xavis and Iniestas. Don’t miss the fact that they can deal with the football and without it.

“We have to go places and show resilience, toughness and physicality allied to our technical ability. If I wasn’t sure about these players dealing with it, they wouldn’t be here.”

James Tavernier, a recent signing from Wigan Athletic, insists there will no lack of relish within the squad for a battle when that is what it takes to prevail.

“One hundred per cent,” he said. “You will see that throughout the year. It is going to be a tough season and there will be games where we have to have a good battle on the pitch. I know the lads here have got that in their locker.

“When I was in the academy at Leeds, we used to love going in for hard challenges even in training. We used to have competitions over who would smash who the hardest. That is definitely in my game. You have probably noticed that I love going in for 50-50s.”

Several of Rangers’ new signings, including Tavernier, goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and defender Rob Kiernan, have had multiple spells on loan during their careers.

Warburton regards that as a positive considering how quickly they will have to adapt to life at Ibrox.

“At Brentford, our goalkeeper David Button had had 13 loans from Tottenham,” he said. “He adapted quickly because he’d had 13 different experiences.

“I am sure the fans have looked at some of the signings and wondered why we are getting these players, but those loans have really benefited them, giving them a taste of what it takes to make an impact at a club really quickly.”

Tavernier, who was sent to six different clubs during his time at Newcastle United, with Wigan also farming him out to Bristol City, said: “My first loan was to Gateshead in the Conference. From playing in nice stadiums with Newcastle Under-21s, I went to proper men’s football against guys playing for their livelihoods.”

Meanwhile, former Rangers defender Bilel Mohsni has joined French top-flight side Angers – and praised Ally McCoist and the Ibrox fans for helping him land the move.

He said: “When I left French football I was playing in the fifth division. I wish Rangers, their fans and Ally McCoist all the best. They helped me make my mark in football.”

Mohsni has three more games to serve of the seven-match ban imposed for his part in the battle at the end of the play-off against Motherwell.