MARK WARBURTON helped Lee Hodson on the road to first team glory during his formative years at Watford.

Now the defender is determined to play his part in delivering more success for the Englishman at Ibrox after being reunited with Warburton north of the border.

The 24-year-old came through the ranks under Warburton’s watch at Vicarage Road and played for the Gers boss at Brentford during a loan spell in League One.

And he is delighted to get the chance to work with his former mentor once again after making the move to Ibrox from MK Dons earlier this month.

Hodson said: “I had Mark as a manager from Under-13s to 18s and back then I knew he had everything to be a top class manager, in a top league, and manage a top club.

“Over the years, he had his time at Brentford and did very well and showed what he can do as a manager. He got the opportunity to come to Rangers and last season he showed his style of play and philosophy and all the lads have bought into it.

“I don’t need to say much about him because he has shown what he can do. He was fantastic for me as a youngster. He helped develop me from the age of 13 until I made my debut at Watford.

“He has got a bit of everything. He has the technical side, the tactical side, he has got man management and that shows.

“Every player when they get on the pitch wants to play for the club and wants to play for the manager and that is very important.

“Every player at the club is together, there are no egos and everyone wants to do well and be successful.

“It is down to the manager to get the group together and be such a close group that nothing gets between the players. That is a credit to Mark that he can bring in players that settle in and add to the group.”

Hodson was handed his Ibrox bow by Warburton on Tuesday night as Rangers made it two wins from two this term by seeing off Annan in the Betfred Cup.

It was the defender’s first match action since he returned from the European Championships after being part of Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad.

And he hopes his time in Light Blue will help him become a regular with the Green and White Army after receiving some words of wisdom from a series of former Gers stars.

Hodson said: “I spoke to Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty, Roy Carroll and they all said it was a massive club and a fantastic opportunity so if I got the chance take it.

“To be fair, when I first heard there was a possibility of me coming here my mind was already made up and there was only one place I wanted to go.

“They sat down and had a chat with me and told me everything I needed to know. Davo is a great captain for Northern Ireland and him speaking to me told me everything I needed to know

“To play for a massive club will help internationally. Michael likes his players to be playing to make the squad.

“For me to make the Northern Ireland squad I will have to be starting more regularly. I am new to the squad, I need to get my head down, work hard and wait for my opportunity because we have got two top class full-backs that did well last season. You don’t expect to walk into the team.

“You have got to work hard and when you are given that opportunity hopefully you can take it. I am going to work hard and keep improving day by day and see where that takes me.”