MARK WARBURTON must have a contacts book the size of a telephone directory and a memory as vivid as an elephant’s. The Englishman’s route to the Rangers manager’s office was a circuitous one and from each stage of his coaching development he has stored away memories of players and their talents for future use. It is Rangers who are currently benefiting from that in-depth, internal Rolodex that Warburton has at his disposal.

He has always insisted that not every new arrival need have had some prior dealing with him but it’s clearly something he gives due consideration to given so many of his signings have worked under him at some point in their careers. It is a trend that looks set to continue with Jon Toral preparing to complete a loan move from Arsenal until the end of the season.

Toral, a 21 year-old Spaniard, played for Warburton during a season-long loan at Brentford, one of three temporary moves he has undertaken after joining Arsenal from Barcelona back in 2011. If his latest loan move to Granada has failed to catch fire, it was a different story last season at Birmingham City, with the attacking midfielder named player of the year by supporters and team-mates, while also claiming the goal of the season for a spectacular strike against Ipswich Town.

“Jon came to our place and won everything!” laughs Paul Robinson, the veteran Birmingham defender who became friends with Toral during their season sharing a dressing room. The pair are still in touch to this day, with Robinson hoping Toral’s next move might have been back to Birmingham rather than to the Scottish Premiership.

Still, leaving personal disappointment to one side, Robinson can’t help but sing the praises of a player he believes can make a major difference to Rangers in the second half of the campaign. If Warburton’s side are thought to miss a spark in the middle of the park, a creative force who can link play between midfield and attack, then Toral might well be the answer.

“Jon’s a fantastic talent and he will be a great signing for Rangers,” said Robinson. “He came straight into the team with us at Birmingham and went on to make a real impact last season. He’s technically excellent, knows where the goal is, and his ability to beat players and bring others into play is second to none. He’s an all-round footballer as he’s also strong in the air with a great jump. He’s a first class talent. I’m gutted really as I thought Birmingham might go back in for him! But if Rangers have got in first then they’ve landed themselves a fantastic signing.

“He’s an attacking midfielder who can play wide on either side but his best position for me is in the hole behind a striker. He causes so many problems as he’s an intelligent player. Even in the tightest of areas he will find space as he’s that good. I can imagine Mark Warburton will look to play him as the number 10 just off the front man and he should thrive in that role.

“I know Mark has worked with him before at Brentford so he’ll know what a player he is. And Jon knows what type of manager he is and what he will expect, so that always helps with any player going into a new dressing room.”

Toral moved to Arsenal from Barcelona at the same time as Hector Bellerin and, while the defender has gone on to become an established presence in Arsene Wenger’s side, his young compatriot is yet to make his competitive debut. With his contract set to expire in the summer, it looks as if his long-term future will lie away from the Emirates but mentor Robinson believes the player has made the most of his various loan experiences.

“I’ve always talked with Jon about his career path and I think it’s important for him to go and enjoy his football,” he added. “So going to be Rangers will be another different challenge for him. He’s gone over to Grenada and has found that tough a little bit but again that’s a different life experience he’s tasted back in Spain. Hopefully now in Scotland he’ll go on to prove himself in yet another different league and a different environment.

“He’s still young and had a few loan spells but I think to experience these kind of challenges is great. Jon knows the time will come when he and Arsenal have to decide what is right for his long-term future, and whether they want to keep him or let him go. And then he will have to decide what the right club is for him after that. Now he’s got a chance at Rangers and if it goes well, then maybe he’ll decide to stay there for a while. He’ll give everyone there a boost just because of his qualities. His team-mates will feed off that. They’ll soon learn they can give him the ball and he can change the game within a few seconds.”