Garner is no average Joe, says former Preston strike partner Kevin Davies

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HE is the man that Mark Warburton is set to put his faith in yet the striker that few Rangers fans know much about. He is no average Joe, though.

 

Nine players have made their way through the blue crested gates of Murray Park this summer but it is the next two that title hopes could be hinged on.

 

The search for a defender and a striker has been ongoing for several weeks and now Warburton is on the verge of his tenth deal as Joe Garner gets set to sign on the dotted line in Glasgow.

 

Rangers will stump up £1.5million to bring Garner north of the border from Preston to become the final piece of the attacking jigsaw this term.

 

And his former Deepdale strike partner Kevin Davies believes it will be money well spent by Warburton as Garner edges closer to a three-year deal with the Light Blues.

 

“I think he will enjoy it and do really well for Rangers,” Davies told SportTimes.

 

“I have never played up there myself so I don’t know what the standard is like but Rangers being back in the top flight is great for them and if the deal goes through then I think they will be getting a good player.

 

“He scored nearly 50 goals in two seasons in League One. He can score any type of goal, he is good in the air, left foot, right foot, spectacular goals, tap-ins.

 

“When he is full of confidence, that is a key thing, then he is hard to stop. He is a good all round striker, he works hard and he is a nightmare to play against.

 

“He is a good professional, he is at a good age and he probably hasn’t hit his prime yet. If you asked any defenders, he is horrible to play against.

 

“He has got a bit of ruthlessness, a bit of naughtiness and endeavour in him, which is what you need. But most importantly he has got the quality to go with the work rate. It will be a good signing.”

 

Goals didn’t exactly prove hard to come by for Rangers as they clinched the Championship title and Petrofac Training Cup last season but fans were often left frustrated by Warburton’s side.

 

Chances were created and spurned on a regular basis and the fear this term is that any profligacy in the final third will cost the Gers dear during their top flight title bid.

 

Garner netted just six times in 44 appearances for North End last term but former Lillywhites striker Davies knows the 28-year-old has goals in him.

 

“For his age, he has had a lot of clubs and a few big moves to Watford and Forest for transfers,” he said.

 

“When I first went there, he had been up to Carlisle and around the lower leagues. There was probably a question mark what standard he could play at and I know he didn’t score many goals in the Championship last season, for whatever reason.

 

“That could be the style of play, Preston play a 3-5-2 and are hard to beat so they don’t create many chances. If he plays in a team where he gets more chances then he will stick them in the back of the net.

 

“I think if you look at his conversion rate from the chances he had, it would be interesting to see.

 

“He can create chances out of nothing himself but if you get good service into him he will score goals.

 

“He struggled a bit at first at Preston but when he got in the team we had a good partnership and he scored a lot of goals when he was playing with Jermaine Beckford.

 

“He is very good all round so it will be interesting to see how he does up there playing for Rangers if all goes through.”

 

The deal to bring Garner north of the border will represent the biggest outlay of Warburton’s time at Ibrox after he sanctioned a seven-figure swoop for the striker.

 

It will also be a step into the unknown for the forward after a career spent on the books of seven clubs south of the border.

 

He is now set to leave his boyhood heroes to embark on another challenge at Ibrox and will look to become a firm favourite with the Light Blue legions.

 

Davies said: “He did well for us and a few teams were interested in him during my first year there. He finished the season really well and scored a lot of goals.

 

“He said he would stay at Preston because he loved playing for the club with the fans there but maybe things have changed.

 

“Whatever the reason, he has made the decision, it is down to him and his family. He is moving to a massive club.

 

“I know the fondness he has for Preston and what it will mean to the fans to lose him because he will be a massive loss.

 

“But you need to make decisions sometimes. I think the move works for him and I am sure he will do well for Rangers.”

 

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