MARK WARBURTON is confident Jason Holt can maintain his fine form for Rangers this season after an impressive start to life at Ibrox.

The midfielder joined the Light Blues in the summer after leaving Hearts and has quickly become one of the key players for Warburton’s side this term.

He netted his fifth goal of the campaign in the 1-1 draw with Livingston on Saturday as Rangers dropped two crucial Championship points and saw title rivals Hibernian move level with them at the top of the table.

Holt has thrived in the 4-3-3 formation that Warburton has deployed this term and he has become a firm favourite with the Ibrox crowd after a string of eye-catching showings.

The form of Holt will be key to the Gers' second tier title bid and boss Warburton is delighted to see the 22-year-old shining in Light Blue.

“He’s maintained a level of consistency which is first class from Jason. There is no doubts about his quality,” he told rangers.co.uk.

“He had to work on that consistency side of his game but you look at the goal [on Saturday]; to run from our own half, to sprint past two of the opposing defenders and to finish at speed with that technique is job well done so to speak.

“So delighted for Jason, he’s really achieved a great level right now and he’s in a good place.

“No, he hasn’t surprised me. We’d never sign players here we didn’t think added value on and off the pitch.

“We saw in the first day of pre-season the quality he undoubtedly has, it was how we apply it, how he fits into our team, our team shape, our philosophy.

“But he’s tremendous every day in training, he comes in and he applies himself so well, as all the boys do.

“He’s well-liked by the group and with the work ethic, the commitment and the quality he shows there is now reason why he can’t have a great season for us.”