MARK WARBURTON helped Lee Hodson on the road to first-team glory during his formative years at Watford. Now the defender is determined to play his part in delivering more success for the Englishman at Ibrox after being reunited with Warburton north of the border.
The 24-year-old came through the ranks on Warburton’s watch at Vicarage Road and then played for the Gers boss at Brentford during a loan spell in League One.
After returning from the European Championships with Northern Ireland earlier this month, Hodson became the eighth arrival of the summer at Ibrox as he and Warburton linked-up once again ahead of the new Premiership campaign. The full-back made his Ibrox debut in the 2-0 win over Annan on Tuesday night as he replaced James Tavernier in the Gers’ starting line-up for the Betfred Cup fixture.
Tavernier last night became the latest Ibrox star to commit his future to the club by putting pen-to-paper on a new contract that will keep him at Rangers until the summer of 2019.
The right-back faces a challenge for his starting spot now that Hodson has made the move from MK Dons, and the Northern Ireland international hopes Warburton can bring out the best in him once again this season.
“I had Mark as a manager from Under-13s to 18s and back then I knew he had everything to be a top-class manager, in a top league, and manage a top club,” Hodson said. “Over the years, he had his time at Brentford and did very well and showed what he can do as a manager. He got the opportunity to come to Rangers and last season he showed his style of play and philosophy and all the lads have bought into it. I don’t need to say much about him because he has shown what he can do. He was fantastic for me as a youngster. He helped develop me from the age of 13 until I made my debut at Watford.
“He has got a bit of everything. He has the technical side, the tactical side, he has got man management and that shows. Every player when they get on the pitch wants to play for the club and wants to play for the manager and that is very important.
“Every player at the club is together, there are no egos and everyone wants to do well and be successful. It is down to the manager to get the group together and be such a close group that nothing gets between the players. That is a credit to Mark that he can bring in players that settle in and add to the group.”
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