MARK Warburton believes Andy Halliday and Jason Holt can join their Rangers team mates Barrie McKay and Lee Wallace in the Scotland squad in the near future if they maintain their current form.
Warburton was delighted that McKay and Wallace’s performances for the Ibrox club this season were again recognised by national manager Gordon Strachan earlier this week.
The pair, who have formed a telepathic partnership down the left flank in recent seasons, were both named in the 28-man squad for the Russia 2018 qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia this month.
The Englishman, whose side take on Partick Thistle in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Ibrox this afternoon, believes central midfielders Halliday and Holt are capable of representing their country.
“A manager is always going to talk up his own players, but you look at Andy Halliday and how he has risen to the challenge,” said Warburton.
“He had a point to prove and when he was captain against Queen of the South he was outstanding and he maintained it again on Sunday against Aberdeen. He has shown real consistency.
“He can play a variety of positions and I’m never going to tell Gordon what to do but I’m sure he’ll know the flexibility that Andy provides.
“And Holty covers distance and gives us so much energy. In training, we just wind him up and let him go. He never stops. He has quality, an eye for goal and a weight of pass and movement that makes him a tremendous player.”
Holt, who was a regular starter as Rangers won the Championship last season, has been sidelined with an ankle injury and Warburton believes his return to full fitness has coincided with his team’s improved form.
“Pre-season wasn’t ideal,” he said. “We failed to really test ourselves because we played four games in the Betfred Cup, scored 10 goals and conceded none. It wasn’t a good enough test for pre-season.
“But Holty being injured was a blow. He provides a real energy. When Kenny and the other centre forwards go down the line, you want players going beyond them and Holty provides that option for you, as does Josh Windass.”
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