Derek Johnstone: Pressure at Rangers means goals are hard work, but Joe Garner could strike a balance

Easy to see why Mark Warburton has been so keen to chase the services of Preston North End’s hitman Joe Garner. Maybe not a household or well-known name, especially in these parts, until the last few weeks. Had I heard of him six months ago? The answer is no.

But a bit of research, a bit of YouTube watching, and asking a few folk who have seen him, quickly tells you that Rangers could be getting an important player, and the type of player they don’t really have already.

Read more: Derek Johnstone: Signing Joleon Lescott could be a masterstroke for Rangers

Garner can score tap-ins, or from 20-yards, with either foot. He also has a good jump on him and can score with his head – not something Rangers have in their armoury right now.

Mark Warburton wants to cover all options and all possible eventualities. Having Garner to hand would give him that high-ball, long-ball approach he may have to use at times, especially against well-organised SPFL defences that are proving hard to break down.

Having someone who operates within the width of the goals, and, who proves a target in the box, could be invaluable for the Gers. And I’d back him now to score a right few goals, because the Rangers team a purpose-made to supply that kind of front man.

Rangers utilise wingers and attacking full-backs down both wings, firing crosses in to the heart of the opponents defence. What an opportunity that would present to Garner, either to finish, or, to provide knockdowns and chances for those around him.

And he is also useful on the deck. So the likes of Joey Barton and Nico Kranjcar will have another option to hit with their defence-splitting passes.

I know the back-to-front route might not be universally popular with Rangers fans who are looking to see a bit of football being played. It may even be alien to the manager, Mark Warburton.

But on occasions, Route One is the only way to go, and the current Gers boss isn’t the first in that role to identify that.

If you think back 30 years ago, the first player Graeme Souness signed was Colin West, and when he didn’t work out, he was replaced by Mark Falco. Your football beliefs and principles might be based around speed and one-touch passing.

But that goes out the window when desperation sets in and you need a goal, and when Plan A has expired and you move on to Plan B, C or Z.

And goals are what will be expected of Garner, as they are from anyone who plays centre-forward for Rangers.

Score a few goals, and you immediately endear yourself to the fans who fill Ibrox. Because that is what is expected, and to be fair, what they are used to.

And that is exactly what any player, playing up front for Rangers, will be expecting to do, simply, by the volume of opportunities that are presented to you.

Garner will also take some of the heat off the likes of Kenny Miller and Martyn Waghorn. I just feel there has been a lot of pressure put on them in the last year or so to deliver, time and time again, and on occasions, it just doesn’t happen.

The injury to Waghorn last term ultimately proved telling in the Cup Final. What Mark Warburton didn’t have then, but has identified as a weakness moving forward, is having back-up and sharing the workload.

I think Garner can do that in Glasgow. At 28, he has a stack of experience, and the price Rangers are willing to pay – and Preston are willing to accept – looks about right. Yes, there will be those who reckon his goals have all come in the lower leagues down south, and that no-one in the top divisions have ever taken a punt on him. It could be a case of more fool them.

But scoring goals transfers to any league, to my mind. And this looks like a sound investment.

However, time will tell if Joe Garner will be a Colin West or a Mark Hateley.

Time, and a few goals …