Where do Rangers need to strengthen in January?

Centre half and midfield, says Neil Cameron

Ask any Rangers fan what position needs to be strengthened in January and you get more than a couple of answers.

And that’s the thing; while their team are top of the Championship, everyone can see that Mark Warburton could buy a player for just about any position and nobody would argue with it.

That’s not going to happen, unless Dave King goes into his piggy bank after Christmas and there is little sign of him doing that. But funds have to be found from somewhere to bolster the squad.

Can Rangers still finish first with this squad? Yes. Probably.

Would they win the league if two first-team players were signed during the transfer window? Almost definitely.

A centre-half would be good. So, too, a holding midfielder, although for me I would suggest that another striker, preferably someone quite big, is more of a priority.

Failure to do any of this would only serve to help Hibs and perhaps even Falkirk who should not be totally discounted.

Warburton spoke about bringing in experience and he was right to do so. If this title race does continue in such a close manner, he will need an older head or two to keep those around them calm when the nerves start jangling.

It is perhaps not the worst thing that Hibs have closed the gap. It serves as a reminder to those running Rangers that more players are needed. It is up to them to deliver.

Up front, says Matthew Lindsay

Martyn Waghorn has probably been, along with James Tavernier, the best signing that Mark Warburton has made since being appointed Rangers manager.

The English centre forward has scored 17 goals in 20 appearances for the Ibrox club. His all-round play, too, has been excellent.

But who else is there who is doing a job up front? Kenny Miller has been fine whenever he has featured and pitched in with some important goals at the start of the season.

The 35-year-old, though, hasn’t netted since August and has never been, one or two hot streaks aside, a particularly prolific scorer in his career.

Nicky Clark, meanwhile, has scored four times all term. The 24-year-old has never fulfilled the potential he showed when he was at Queen of the South and you have to wonder what the future holds for him at Ibrox.

Elsewhere, great things are expected of Ryan Hardie. He has shown glimpses of his ability in his first team appearances, but is still just 18. He is hardly the sort of player who can lead the line for Rangers as the race for the Championship heats up.

Warburton needs to bring in an experienced forward, preferably a target man, in in January. At the moment, his team has nobody in the final third who can enable them to switch to a more direct style of play.

The former Brentford man’s desire to play attractive football is admirable and the Rangers fans have certainly appreciated it. They have returned to Ibrox in their droves.

But having more options in attack, possessing the ability to hurt teams in a different way, would be no bad thing with Hibs on form and applying serious pressure.