RANGERS legend Willie Johnston is confident Mark Warburton and his players can handle the demands from an expectant Ibrox crowd in the Premiership this season.

The Light Blues kick-off their campaign with a Betfred Cup tie against Motherwell this weekend and will also face Annan, East Stirlingshire and Stranraer in Group F.

After hosting Premier League outfit Burnley at Ibrox, Warburton’s side will then welcome Hamilton Accies as the top flight gets off and running on Saturday, August 6.

The Englishman has added strength and depth to his squad over the summer break as he looks to build on an encouraging first season in Scottish football.

And former Ibrox star Johnston knows there will be lofty expectations from the stands as supporters dream of Premiership title glory once again.

He said: “Hopefully they can improve again because they have got better and there is nothing to stop them being successful. They are a good bunch of boys so hopefully everything goes well for them.

“After what has happened in the last four or five years, if Rangers could win the league it would be brilliant, an absolutely tremendous achievement.

“I think a lot of fans will say ‘we will settle for second or third’. They will not want that, though. We will see how they play over the season.

“It would be fantastic if they could do it this year having just come up. It will be hard. To come back into the Premiership and win it would be great.

“I think the players that are here know the expectation of being a Rangers player. It is hard, very hard to play here every second week and go to Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts. They will learn quickly what it takes to win games like that.”

After guiding his side to the Championship title and the Petrofac Training Cup last term, Warburton will now look to deliver more success in his second season at Ibrox.

The 53-year-old has claimed Rangers must be ‘highly competitive’ in the top flight as they look to stop Celtic recording a sixth successive league crown.

The Premiership battle will be the biggest test of Warburton’s managerial career to date as he goes head-to-head with friend and former colleague Brendan Rodgers.

And Johnston hopes having 12 months in the Old Firm spotlight under his belt will stand the former Brentford boss in good stead this term.

He said: “The pressure on both managers is unbelievable. Being at Rangers, or Celtic, is one of the hardest jobs in the world as a manager.

“Mark has had a season and knows what it is about so hopefully he can continue to be successful.

“Scott Symon, Davie White, Willie Waddell, Jock Wallace, John Greig, they knew what the pressure was. It is different being at Rangers. The fans want success and that is what you have got to give them.

“Davie Weir knows what it takes, he has been through it here, and can help the manager. He will know after last season what it will take this year so hopefully they can do it.”

*Barcelona Bear Willie Johnston was pictured promoting the Rangers Youth Development Company and their new Youth Members Club - which costs £25 a year and gives fans the chance to get closer than ever to the Rangers Academy.

Members could enjoy Youth Player/Coach ‘Meet and Greet’ sessions, access to selected youth training sessions, competitions to win season tickets, tours of Ibrox and Auchenhowie, a monthly members newsletter and much, much more. ?Rangers fans can continue to support RYDC in a variety of ways – full details on Rangers Lotto, Rising Stars, Scratchcards, Stadium Bricks and the Youth Members Club can be found at www.rydc.co.uk, emailing rydc@rangers.co.uk or calling 0141 427 4914.