MARK WARBURTON, the Rangers manager, insists he won’t upset the harmony in the Ibrox dressing room with an influx of signings in the January transfer window. Warburton will target a couple of players to strengthen his squad for the second half of the season and what he hopes will be a potential Premiership campaign next time out, but midfielder Gai Assulin will not be offered a deal following a stint training at Murray Park.

Boss Warburton and assistant David Weir overhauled their squad during the summer after inheriting a threadbare first team pool and the likes of James Tavernier, Jason Holt and Martyn Waghorn have all impressed thus far as Rangers have opened up an eight point advantage at the top of the Championship table ahead of their meeting with Hibernian tomorrow.

Warburton has often spoken positively about the mentality and camaraderie of the group of players he has assembled and the importance of their collective efforts in achieving their goals this term. It is a situation the former Brentford manager is determined to maintain and one he will not put at risk by making too many changes too quickly.

“You can’t have a break in the harmony by bringing someone in on a much higher wage,” Warburton said. “It didn’t happen at my last club and it won’t happen here.

“Everyone sits in the same dressing room and I’m not a fan of players being on difference appearance fees or whatever. We are playing the same game and everyone has to be on the same level.

“You can get a very good player, but you have to make sure you keep the dressing room happy. A lack of harmony is the last thing you want. It does far more harm than good.”

Ahead of the trip to Easter Road that could see his side take a significant step towards securing promotion to the Premiership, Warburton held discussions with chairman Dave King on his return to Glasgow this week as he and the Gers board continue the rebuilding job at Ibrox together.

The 53-year-old has made an impressive impact so far this season, the fine form and attractive style of play from his side endearing him to supporters. There is still some way to go and much improvement needed before Rangers are ready to challenge for the top domestic honours once again, but Warburton is keen to keep up the momentum.

“We are the football department and we go to the owner and the board and say: ‘This is what we think we need.’ You’ve got to be honest,” he said.

“When you go into a club as a new manager you’ve got to earn trust. They’ve done all that homework on you, but you’ve got to earn the trust. You cannot come in on day one and start demanding. Everyone says you’re strongest the minute you walk in the door, I disagree. You are strongest when you’ve proved yourself.

“Hopefully - without meaning to sound arrogant - we’ve come in and shown we can work with the players and bring in some good ones. The relationship right now is in a really good place. We go to the powers that be and say: ‘This is what I think we need. This is where we’re light and strong,’ and if they can support you, we’re going to be in a good place.”

Warburton may already be putting his plans in place for the January window, and have one eye on who he can bring to Ibrox next summer, but his immediate focus is the meeting with Hibernian at Easter Road. Rangers have beaten Alan Stubbs’ side twice already this season, a 1-0 Championship win at Ibrox coming just a couple of weeks after they kicked off the campaign with a 6-2 victory in the Petrofac Training Cup.

If Rangers can complete a hat-trick on Sunday, it would put them eleven points clear at the top of the table and, for some, already too far out of Hibs’ reach. It is an enticing prospect for Warburton and his players, but their outlook would not alter even if they could take their lead into double digits.

“It would be a good advantage. So is five. So is eight,” he said. “If, at the start of the season, you had said what we be good for Rangers in terms of points ahead after 12 games, you would have taken any of those three numbers.

“We have no lack of belief. We are very respectful of the challenge we face because it is a good manager with a good side, who are full of belief. We know that. But our job is Rangers Football Club.

“No [it is not a must win for Hibs]. We will only be a third of the way through the season. There are loads of points left to play for after Sunday.”