Arguably the least-heralded of Rangers’ summer signings has been one of the most impressive.
Rangers defender Clint Hill has told the Daily Record that he has been surprised by the standard of football in the Scottish top flight.
The 38-year-old centre-back has spent the entirety of his long career south of the border, playing in all four divisions for the likes of QPR and Stoke City.
Many Rangers fans questioned the decision to sign Hill, who will turn 40 in 14 months, on a free in the summer but he has repaid manager Mark Warburton’s faith with a string of solid performances, standing out in the edgy win against Inverness on Christmas Eve.
And Hill admits that he has been shocked by the intensity and the quality of the often-derided Scottish Premiership.
“I don’t think you realise how big it is until you actually step into it and experience it,” Hill told the Daily Record.
“The Scottish league is probably frowned upon a little bit down south. “They are quite dismissive saying, ‘Ah the standard is not there’ or ‘The quality is not there’.
“But it’s hard here. Especially when you pull on a Rangers shirt. People want to beat you.
“They want to rough you up and take points off you, so you have to be constantly at a decent level or you’ll be found out.”
A number of Hill’s more vaunted team-mates, particularly Joey Barton and former Arsenal and AC Milan defender Philippe Senderos, struggled badly since making the move to Ibrox in the summer.
However, the 38-year-old’s professionalism and discipline has proved integral to an otherwise youthful side and his recent rubbishing of reports linking him with a return to QPR should please a number of fans who, only a few months ago, were scratching their head at his arrival.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
