MARK WARBURTON knew it was the right decision to offer Kenny Miller a new deal when he heard his veteran striker was being raved about at Arsenal and Tottenham.

The former Scotland star, who turns 36 next month, this week signed a contract which keeps him at Ibrox until 2017 in a playing and coaching capacity.

And Warburton revealed that Dominic Ball and Nathan Oduwa, on loan from Spurs, and Arsenal's Gedion Zelalem have spoken in glowing terms about Miller to their parent clubs.

It his example and attitude on the training ground, as much as anything else, which has impressed his manager in the six months they have worked together.

Warburton revealed: "We have a close relationship with Spurs and Arsenal and the feedback from the likes of Nathan is the one player they’ve learned the most from is training is Kenny.

"The feedback is what an example Kenny has been.

"The way he applies himself in training every day is intense and that’s the lesson. You see one or two ease themselves into sessions, but not Kenny, Lee Wallace or Dean Shiels.

"We’re really young - the average has gone from 29 to below 23; Jordan Thomson and Gideon Zelalem 18, Fraser Aird, Nathan, Tom Walsh all 19, Barrie Mackay 20.

"They’re a young squad so you need seniority and experience and it comes from the likes of Kenny, Dean and Lee."

In a perfect world, Warburton would like to add an older player to his squad in January.

Whether money will be available is another matter, but the aim for the manager is to bring in more experience.

Asked if this is what he wanted, Warburton said: "If the right person becomes available, yes, but they’re few and far between.

"In January we’ll go for one or two. In February and March the heavier pitches, injuries and suspensions all kick in so we’ll have to have a little bit more depth, but not much."

Warburton knows his side will have to be at their best to beat a Livingston team who are well organised and tend to raise their game against the Ibrox men.

He said: "They will be a threat. We have played them already. I saw again on Tuesday and they are very resilient, organised and have real appetite, work ethic and unity amongst them.

"They are tough to break down. Hibs found it hard to break them down. Livingston had a big penalty shout early on and missed a goal so they are difficult. We will respect that. But we have to try and do what we do well.

"We just do what we are able to do and you hope that other matters are covered.

"From our point of view, all we can affect is our performance and retain our shape, retain our intensity, our tempo, shift the ball where we want to shift the ball and hopefully get the rewards if we create chances.”