MARK WARBURTON is confident Rangers are on the right track for their Premiership return after completing a clean sweep of Betfred Cup wins last night.

Rangers ensured they will finish top of Group F as a Martyn Waghorn double and second half strike from Niko Kranjcar clinched a comfortable win against Stranraer.

Boss Warburton was again able to mix-and-match his side to give his players more vital match minutes ahead of the top flight kick-off.

Read more: Rangers 3-0 Stranraer: Mark Warburton's side clinch top spot in Group F with Ibrox triumphGlasgow Times: Rangers' Niko Kranjcar, centre, scored his first goal for the club against Stranraer

The Englishman has previously been critical of the new League Cup format but he is pleased with the progress the Gers have made in their matches with Motherwell, Annan, East Stirlingshire and their 3-0 Ibrox win.

Warburton said: “Lots of positives. Joey Barton getting an hour, Jordan (Rossiter) getting 30 minutes, Niko and Harry (Forrester) getting through 90 minutes tonight.

“All the squad have had good pitch time now, four games in nine days and we’ve come through unscathed in terms of injury. We’ve had four clean sheets, so lots of positives.

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“No [I haven’t changed my mind]. It’s four games in nine days. I think it’s inappropriate. But it is what it is, we had to deal with it.

“We’ve come through the four games injury free, which is always good news and we’ve got better with every game.

“Energy levels were good, there was a good intensity for longer tonight. I felt we got sloppy after 75 minutes but we’ve still got ten days to go until the start to the season. So we’re in a good place.”Glasgow Times: Rangers Martyn Waghorn (left) is congratulated by team-mate Joey Barton after scoring from the penalty spot during the Betfred Cup game at the Ibrox, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday July 25, 2016. See PA story SOCCER Rangers. Photo

It has been a productive few weeks for Warburton as Rangers have stepped up their preparations for the new campaign and a crack at the Premiership title.

Midfielder Rossiter was the latest summer recruit to make his Light Blues bow as he was handed his first minutes on the park following his return from the Under-19 European Championships.

Now the former Liverpool kid will be given another chance to impress when Premier League outfit Burnley make the trip across the border this weekend.

Warburton said: “He’s fiery, he can look after the football and won’t shy away from anything. We need that ruggedness in midfield.

“They’ll all play a big part. It’s about the squad and it will be a tough season.

“It’s a tough league with demanding games. To maintain a level of intensity we’ve got to use the squad. It’s not about individuals, or eleven players. It’s about the entire squad.

“We’re in good shape. We’ll have more substitutions on Saturday.

“I spoke to Sean Dyche and it will be a tough test for us. They’re bringing a strong team for the first 70 minutes. It’ll be a tough test.

“It’s the type of test we need for the following week, then we’ll have a week’s training. Hopefully we go into the game in good form, with four clean sheets and scoring 10. There’s no doubt it’ll be a tough game.”

It was to prove another encouraging night all round for Warburton as Waghorn took his tally for the season to four with an early penalty and good finish from the edge of the area before Kranjcar completed the scoring just after the break.

The Croatian has made a positive start to life in Light Blue as he has caught the eye and become a firm favourite of the Ibrox crowd.

Kranjcar was on the end of a late lunge from Ryan Thomson in the closing stages of a one-sided encounter and Warburton was relieved to see the playmaker escape without injury.

He said: “It was a bad tackle but he got up, so he’s fine touch wood.

“You don’t play 80 caps for Croatia, he can look after himself don’t worry about that. That was a bad tackle but we move on from it.

“Niko was good tonight, he got through the 90 although he tired after 75 minutes but he’s working on that, likewise Harry.

“It was good to get Joey back on the pitch and Kenny. Lots of positives.”