Rangers boss Mark Warburton targets 'Premiership' signings

Image: Mark Warburton wants to add value to his Rangers squad in January

Mark Warburton will make his Rangers signings with a view to an anticipated return to the Scottish Premiership when the transfer window opens in January.

The former Brentford manager has led the Ibrox side eight points clear of nearest challengers Hibernian in the Championship after winning each of his first 11 league games in charge.

Rangers travel to Hibs on Sunday and if they win it will be seen by many as a big step towards a return to Scotland's top flight for the first time since 2012.

Warburton has been clear on his ambitions for this season, with a title success his top priority in his first term in Glasgow.

He will therefore look to bring in Premiership-standard signings when he looks to enhance his pool midway through the campaign.

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Warburton told Sky Sports Now: "In a very respectful way, we will be strengthening for next season. Our harmony within the squad is really strong.

Mark Warburton says there's still work to be done at Rangers, despite the Scottish Championship leaders having a 100 per cent league record

"That's evident in the way we play and the late goals we score but I think we have to look at it and add value to our current squad.

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"We also want send out a message of intent, a statement of intent about what plan to do going forward."

Warburton will look to extend his team's winning run this weekend against a Hibs side which has also been in good form lately.

Since losing 1-0 to Rangers at Ibrox in August, they have won nine of their 10 games in all competitions and drawn the other.

Image: Rangers have won twice against Hibernian this season but the Edinburgh team is unbeaten in 10 games

Warburton, however, has dismissed the idea Sunday's match carries any extra significance due to the fact it is against the team closest to his own in the standings.

Asked if the match represented his team's toughest test of the season yet, he added: "Very respectfully, no. It's another three points and I don't mean that in any bad way to Hibs at all.

"They've had a tremendous run and we're very aware of the threat they pose. They've an outstanding set of results with good away victories.

"They're in a good place right now I'm sure in terms of confidence and momentum but so are we. We've played 11 and won 11.

"Our focus has always been on one game at a time. We can't change it because there's a particular encounter here.

"Right now, we know what we have to do. We have to prepare well. We've recovered from the weekend, we've analysed our game and now our focus is on Hibs.

"We have some good days of training to prepare for and hopefully we will deliver the right level of performance."

After a start which saw them score 40 times in their first 11 games this season, Rangers have netted just four goals in their last three matches as teams have tightened up against them.

Image: Rangers have found goals harder to come by recently and won 1-0 at St Mirren on Sunday

Warburton believes his team has to adapt to that and said: "Teams aren't going to come and play the way we want them to play.

"There have been certain comments that we've only been winning by one or two - we had a strong start, a really pleasing start and we scored goals and created chances.

"But teams are going to put men behind the ball, they'll counter and they have physicality in terms of set-piece danger. We have to be aware of that. Every week is a learning curve for us."

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