MARK WARBURTON reckons the chance to work alongside David Weir will help Rob Kiernan become a hit at Rangers.

The defender has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Light Blues, and will join Warburton’s squad when they return for pre-season training at Murray Park this weekend.

Kiernan spurned the advances of Birmingham City to make the move north of the border and be reunited with Warburton after the pair worked together previously at Watford and Brentford.

And the Gers boss is confident the 24-year-old will make a big impression in the Championship this season.

Warburton said: "He has good character, really good character, but whenever you speak to Rob it's like Christmas morning, he just wants to play football, always has done.

"I think we had him at Watford at 12 or 13 years of age and he's always been the same. He just loves playing football, would train too hard, if anything, so it's about us getting the load in right for Rob, getting into him and using his experience, developing him.

"For him to work alongside someone like David Weir will be fantastic as a centre-half, a footballing centre-half, so he's looking forward to it, but I'm sure, I hope very much, that the supporters see a very good signing.

"The key thing is he wants to be here. He got the offers in the [Sky Bet] Championship, but he wants to be here and that sends out a powerful message.

“You have all these names being bandied around, you could throw a thousand names, the fact is if there is one person who wants to be here that is the one we will sign.

“It's important for us. Does he add the value on and off the pitch? Does he add the quality? Has he got the passion to come here and make a real impression?"

Kiernan was the second arrival of the day at Murray Park as he followed Danny Wilson into the club after he completed the paperwork on a three-year deal.

The former Wigan stopper has had a succession of loan spells across the English game in recent years and Warburton hopes a move to Rangers will bring out the best in him.

He told www.rangers.co.uk: “He played comfortably in the Championship last year down south and had offers to go back down into the Championship, but when he heard about this here you could hear immediately his excitement.

"He wants to play football, he wants to get on the ball and impress, he wants to be the best player and that's how Rob is.

"He's well liked in the dressing room, well liked off the pitch and, for me, he'll really add value here at Ibrox."