Clint is far from over the Hill, says Rangers assistant Davie Weir

There have been comparisons drawn between the signing of 37-year-old Hill and Weir’s own arrival as a Rangers player in his late thirties back in 2007.

Despite scepticism over Weir’s signing from some quarters at the time, he went on to earn a place in the Rangers Hall of Fame in a five-year spell as a player at the club.

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He says that he sees a similar enthusiasm from Hill to help Rangers succeed in their first season back in the top-flight, and believes his experience will prove invaluable.

“From speaking to him today and previously we knew he was excited by the prospect,” Weir said.

“He couldn’t wait to get up. It’s a new challenge for him, an exciting one, and one he is definitely up for.

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“He’s very experienced obviously, which is something perhaps you could say we’ve lacked a little bit, so he’ll add to us in that respect.

“He’s up to compete for a place and he’s up to add his experience to what is a relatively young group, so we’re fortunate to get him. He’s very excited to be here and I think he’ll complement what we already have here.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve, and I think that supporters will enjoy that about him. He’s going to be an important member of our squad for us when we go up back into the Premier League.

“I’ve seen him over a number of years, playing against him and watching him, and he’s well thought of among the managers and coaches he’s played under and played against, so he’s a very experienced player.

“He’s someone who has been around the block a bit and had loads of good experiences at a really good level.

“We’ve brought Joey Barton in who has got experience and Clint will help along those lines as well.

“It was an area we saw last year that we were young. We had good experience from the likes of Kenny [Miller], Lee [Wallace] and Dean Shiels and people like that, but it’s important that you get that balance right in regards to having youth and the excitement that youth brings, but also having that experience and that composure when it’s required as well.

“Obviously Dom Ball has gone back so we are light in numbers in that position, and Clint will come in and compete for a place. We need competition in all places though, that’s the way it is at Rangers, you’re expected to earn your place – nothing is guaranteed.

“Good players welcome competition and it makes them better, so that will be the case here.”

Weir is only too aware of how the signing of a player in his late thirties can be perceived, but he insists that Hill should be judged on his own fitness and contribution as the season progresses.

“I think people are fixated on age and try to use it as a stick to beat players sometimes,” he said. “But if you look at how he looks, what he’s done and how often he’s been playing and available then I think that’s the most important thing.

“Clint’s desperate to do well and he’s really excited to be here, which is very important as well.

“You can see the enthusiasm he’s got for the move. He’s excited by the prospect of coming to Rangers and trying to help us build on last season and gain success this season.

“He’ll add both on and off the pitch and that’s going to be really important for us.”