Mark Warburton has heaped praise on his three-prong attack of Barrie McKay, Kenny Miller and Martyn Waghorn.
The revitalised Gers have hit 14 goals in just 4 league games in this season’s Championship so far, thanks in no small part to the havoc being created by their front trio who have bagged 6 of those goals between them.
McKay has largely spent the last two seasons out on loan at Morton and then Raith Rovers, but Warburton says that the 19-year-old’s attitude has made him impossible to ignore.
“All David and I can do is forget anything that has gone previously and come in and assess the team from the first day of pre-season,” Warburton said.
“Barrie’s application has been first-class, he’s worked hard and his commitment has never been in question, so he deserves to be playing and he deserves to be part of the squad, there’s no doubt about that.
“I’m delighted for him that his hard work is paying off.
“His big challenge now will be consistency. He’s shown what he can achieve week-in week-out so far, and now he has to keep showing that on a consistent basis.
“If he can do that then he’ll have a real big impact for the club going forward.”
Warburton doesn’t underestimate the influence of Miller on the forward, with his application and endeavour rubbing off on his younger teammate.
At the end of last season it was presumed by many that it would have been a natural time for the veteran front-man to leave the club for a third time, as teammates like Lee McCulloch and Ian Black bade farewell following a disastrous campaign.
Under the new management regime though, the 69-times capped 35-year-old has regained some of his lost mojo.
“It’s not about age, it’s how he uses his experience and his knowledge and his undoubted quality,” Warburton said.
“When you watch Kenny every day in training then he always gives 100 percent, he always puts it in, and he’s getting out of it what he does put in.
“It’s great for him, and again, he’s in the side and in the squad on merit, and it’s great to have that quality to call on.
“We’ve got a number of leaders now on the park which is nice to see.
“There’s Lee Wallace, there’s Kenny, and then you have the likes of Danny Wilson who has vast experience at a young age really.
“Rob Kiernan likes to lead as well, and all over the park now we have leaders who like to take responsibility and mentor the younger players as well.
“Don’t forget that Nathan (Oduwa), Dominic Ball and Gedion (Zelalem) etc. are only 18, 19 or 20 years-of-age just, so you need that mentor role and the experience to help those young guys through as well.”
The top-scorer so far in the attacking triumvirate is new arrival Waghorn with 3 goals to his name already.
Warburton says though that there is still more to come from the industrious Englishman, and thinks he will kick on now that he is fully up to speed with the frenetic pace of the game in Scotland’s second tier.
“Martyn was needing to play a run of games and he’s getting into his stride now,” he said.
“He can play central, he can play wide, he can cut in, he can go outside, he secures the ball, he links up play and he’s a tremendous asset for the team.
“I’m delighted for him because he came here to play football and have a positive impact, and he’s doing that.
“Hopefully the fans can see that as well.”
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