Rangers: Our writers give their view on how Mark Warburton's side should shape up in the Premiership

With their second Celtic showdown to come the following weekend, Rangers have to find their form quickly if they are to turn their campaign around and keep their hopes of silverware alive this season.

Warburton has plenty of options in his Light Blue ranks and here the SportTimes writers give their verdict on what they think will be Rangers’ most effective line-up in the Premiership.

Read more: Clint Hill: Ibrox expectancy levels have been an eye-opener since I signed for Rangers

CHRIS JACK

Foderingham; Tavernier, Wilson, Senderos, Wallace; Rossiter, Halliday; McKay, Kranjcar, Miller; Waghorn

Mark Warburton is unlikely to deviate from his favoured 4-3-3 but a switch to a 4-2-3-1 could pay dividends at both ends of the park for Rangers.

An extra body sitting that bit deeper in the middle of the park will provide more protection to the back four, where Danny Wilson and Philippe Senderos look the best solution to a problem that has plagued Rangers for months.

The return of Jordan Rossiter will be a big boost for the Gers. Until then, Harry Forrester should partner Andy Halliday, who is one of the first names on the team sheet at present.

That would allow Niko Kranjcar to be absolved of any defensive duties and to operate as a No.10, while Barrie McKay and Kenny Miller should be able to provide more width, and goals, in the final third.

If Martyn Waghorn plays, it should be through the middle rather than wide and he should get the nod ahead of Joe Garner at present as he looks to find his shooting boots at Ibrox.

Read more: Clint Hill: Ibrox expectancy levels have been an eye-opener since I signed for Rangers

GRAEME MACPHERSON

Foderingham; Tavernier, Senderos, Wilson, Wallace; Rossiter, Halliday, Holt; Forrester, Garner, McKay

If Rangers’ immediate future isn’t going to include Joey Barton then that may be no bad thing.

The Englishman showcased an impressive array of long, sweeping diagonal passes in the early matches of the season but his insistence on picking up the ball from the toes of his centre halves to start every move killed any pace to Rangers’ attacks and gave the opposition too long to regroup.

Similarly, Niko Kranjcar – for all his undoubted technical ability – is often too ponderous on the ball. Jordan Rossiter, when he recovers from a calf injury, Andy Halliday and Jason Holt should provide greater dynamism within that central midfield three.

Defensively, Philippe Senderos merits the chance to establish himself alongside Danny Wilson while question marks remain over Rob Kiernan and Clint Hill.

Harry Forrester and Barrie MacKay should offer pace and width down the flanks and provide service for Joe Garner at centre forward, with Kenny Miller, Martyn Waghorn, Michael O’Halloran and Joe Dodoo offering alternative options off the bench.

NEIL CAMERON

Foderingham; Tavernier, Wilson, Hill, Wallace; Rossiter, Halliday, Windass; Waghorn, Miller, McKay

Clint Hill gets in only because he hasn’t, so far, made as many mistakes as those who could take his place. Jason Holt isn’t playing well enough right now, Josh Windass looks a player and Rossiter, when fit, stood out from the rest.

As for the front-three, I’ve seen nothing to suggest that Miller doesn’t remain the best striker at the club.

It’s a 4-3-3 because that’s how Warburton always lines up but I think the formation needs tweaked to a 4-2-3-1.

Halliday has to start and in the middle, although it would be interesting to see him further up the pitch with someone else taking care of defensive duties.

MATTHEW LINDSAY

Foderingham; Tavernier, Wilson, Hill, Wallace; Halliday, Holt, Windass; Miller, Waghorn, McKay

Josh Windass has only featured in five games for Rangers since moving to Ibrox in the summer. But the former Accrington Stanley man has impressed me whenever he has taken to the field and just edges out Harry Forrester and Niko Kranjcar in a three man midfield alongside Andy Halliday and Jason Holt.

Mark Warburton has several options at centre half following the arrival of Clint Hill and Philippe Senderos in the summer. Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson were the first choice pairing last term. But I think the Hill/Wilson partnership is worth persevering with.

Up front, I would keep things the same as last season and field Barrie McKay, Martyn Waghorn and Kenny Miller. Joe Garner has, despite scoring against Celtic, taken time to settle in Glasgow.

But he is an experienced player who will challenge strongly for a regular start once he adjusts to his new surroundings.

GRAEME MCGARRY

Foderingham; Tavernier, Wilson, Hill, Wallace; Rossiter, Halliday; Windass, Forrester, Kranjcar; Waghorn

Mark Warburton needs to finally find a viable Plan B, and for me the priority is adding a little more energy and bite to his midfield area. In saying that, I would keep Niko Krancjar in the side as he is capable of moments of magic.

His goal against Partick Thistle, which he conjured from almost nowhere, elevated what had been a turgid Rangers performance to that point and gave them a platform to win the game.

But I don’t think you can play the Croatian as part of a midfield three, so I would tweak the set-up to 4-2-3-1 and include the athleticism of Jordan Rossiter, Josh Windass and Harry Forrester to compensate for Krancjar’s more leisurely approach.

It might be harsh not to include Barrie McKay, but his form has undoubtedly dipped of late. At the back, Clint Hill is included due to the lack of a viable alternative, with Philippe Senderos looking a mile off the pace so far in his short Rangers career.