MARTYN WAGHORN has warned Alloa that slashing the size of their plastic pitch will have no effect on a Rangers team focused on increasing their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship.

Ibrox boss Mark Warburton has stated that he cannot believe the Wasps were allowed to bring in the touchlines by five yards either side of the Indodrill Stadium after new boss Jack Ross took over in December.

He has urged his managing director Stewart Robertson to write to the SPFL to seek a change in the rules which states that pitches must remain the same for the entire season and has changed his week’s training in preparation for today’s match.

Waghorn insists, though, that the row means nothing to the players.

“Alloa did it when their new manager took over, so they haven't just done it for this one game,” said the striker. “It is not against the rules and he is going to try to be more effective at home, I guess, but it is not going to affect us.

"It is up to them what they want to do, but it's up to us to show the right mentality and approach. We believe in ourselves and we've got to go and get the job done."

Waghorn admits, however, that he is not a fan of plastic pitches and concedes that he was given food for thought before moving to Glasgow when he heard that they are very much on the rise in Scottish senior football because of concerns over injuries.

“I've read the research and you don't really come across it too often playing down south,” said the former Wigan Athletic man. “I did think about it when I came up here, but you have just got to accept it.

“It is going to be physically demanding on the body, but we have to prepare and try to ensure it has as little effect on the body as possible. You've got to do your pool work as part of the recovery and we've got the facilities here to do that.

"When Rob Kiernan came up, he told me about it. It's not ideal, to be honest, because I don't think they are good on your body. You do think that you could get injured on these surfaces, just because of the reports and studies that have come out lately.

“It's a bit more physically demanding on your body because the surfaces are firmer and it's tougher on the joints.

“I guess it's got to be done, but it can be hard work recovering from it.”

“Maybe in the future, we can progress to better 3G or move back onto grass. It's an issue for the moment, but our job is to play football and you can also do damage on snowy pitches or rainy pitches.

“I think I will be struggling in 20 years’ time no matter what. Knowing my body, I will probably the struggling in 10.”

Waghorn insists, though, that worries about artificial surfaces in Scotland should not prevent Warburton from strengthening his side in the summer.

"When I first came here, it was because of the size of Rangers and the potential,” he said. “I don't think players come here and think: 'Oh, the pitches are a bit funny.’

“I think they come to play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe with the prospect of winning leagues and cups and playing in Europe. That's the reason why you come here."

Waghorn has bagged 27 goals this season, but still hears suggestions that Rangers would benefit from bringing in more a target man. He admits it doesn’t bother him in the slightest and concedes he is not a natural centre-forward.

“We’ve played as a front three and I’ve played as a striker in the majority of the games,” he said. “Recently, I’ve been used out wide, but the gaffer gives me the freedom to go through the centre if I sense a chance while Kenny can go wide.

“It’s just trying to find a way to break teams down.

“If they want to sign another striker, that’s great. Maybe we could do with another at times.

“I’d like to say I’m a number nine, but I’m not an out-and-out striker. I like to come short and get the ball, drift, play wide. I’d say I’m a nine-and-a-half.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a poacher in the box, but maybe I could add that to my game.”

Celtic star Leigh Griffiths has scored 29 so far this term, but Waghorn admits he would love to beat his tally and be the United Kingdom’s most prolific hitman.

"It would be good to finish as Britain's top goalscorer and I don't see why I couldn't,” he stated.

"There are a lot of things being said about the competition between Leigh and me, but I've got a different job to his. He is in the Premier League, I'm in the Championship. We've each got our own personal objectives. Mine is about getting Rangers promoted.

"I've doubled my best ever goals tally already this season and it's nice to be up amongst the leading goalscorers."