Should Rangers fans be concerned after Mark Warburton praised four summer signings?

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The Gers are 11 points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic and, to rub salt into the wounds, Brendan Rodgers’ side have two games in hand.

Rangers manager Mark Warburton has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he is more than happy with four of his least effective summer signings, arguing that they provide him with options off the bench.

Matt Gilks, Joe Dodoo, Philippe Senderos and Clint Hill have made just 14 Scottish Premiership appearances between them this season, 10 of which belonging to the latter, with Warburton’s summer recruitment drive drawing mixed results so far.

While the quartet could hardly be placed in the same category as Joey Barton, they are yet to set Ibrox alight with Senderos in particular falling out of favour after being sent off in the 5-1 Old Firm thrashing by Celtic following a needless and rather baffling handball.

Nonetheless, Warburton opted not to focus on their lack of starts but instead argued that reinforcements to his squad have provided him with much needed options in a testing first campaign back in the top flight.

“For us to turn round and have people like Matt Gilks, Philippe Senderos, Clint Hill, Michael O’Halloran, Joe Dodoo, Kenny Miller, who has been outstanding, on the bench and to have that quality right the way from front to back is very pleasing,” the former Brentford boss told the Glasgow Evening Times.

“You can’t have a squad of 21, 22 players and only rely on 12, 13, 14. If you don’t trust the players they shouldn’t be in your squad.”

However, with Celtic pulling clear at the top of the table, blessed with the pace and goalscoring prowess of summer signings Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair, Rangers fans are within their rights to question Warburton’s transfer activity.

After all, Dodoo and co may have enhanced the size of the club’s squad, but have they really increased the quality at the manager’s disposal?

Nonetheless, it cannot be disputed that Warburton must start hitting the right notes more regularly in the transfer market if Rangers are to stand any chance of bridging the huge gap between themselves and Celtic in the coming seasons.