How will Jon Toral and Emerson Hyndman fit into Rangers' system?

Jon Toral

Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Best position: Number 10.

Other positions: Central midfield, and on either wing.

Likely position: Probably number 10, possibly elsewhere.

Jon Toral himself has stated that he prefers the number 10 role but is happy to play anywhere. When we spoke to journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke on the matter, he said that he's often ended up on the flanks as managers are reluctant to play a more lightweight player in the centre. However, Mark Warburton may disagree, and while Toral might not exactly be Brock Lesnar, he's solid and competent and well able to defend and win the ball back.

Josh Windass has been decent but has struggled for fitness, so his natural position would surely be to switch around there. Jason Holt has also struggled for consistency, but Emerson Hyndman is in to compete there. With Barrie McKay back in form, we'd expect Toral to be getting most of his game time either in place of Josh Windass or over on the right flank, which nobody seems to be able to nail down. However, with Toral probably better suited to the centre, and Windass arguably just as good or even better on the right, it's probable both will play and we'll get an adjustment of position for Josh.

Emerson Hyndman

Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Best position: Central midfield, spraying passes around for teammates.

Other positions: Can play deeper or further forward in midfield, and has played on the left.

Likely position: Deepest midfielder.

Hyndman's best position is in the middle of the three central midfielders, with a more defensive player to do the dirty work behind him and a more direct, incisive goal threat ahead of him. However, he's also perfectly capable of dictating play from deep, and it probably makes more sense for Rangers to play him there.

At the moment, with Jordan Rossiter injured, that spot is taken up by Andy Halliday. Halliday played some very good football last year in the central spot ahead of Dominic Ball, but he's woefully underequipped in discipline, positioning and concentration to play the deeper midfield role. Hyndman isn't a defensive midfielder, but he can't possibly be any worse at screening the defence than Halliday.

In addition, Hyndman can control play from deep, something Rangers have been struggling to do of late. The response was to make use of the aerial presence of Joe Garner, but he could miss up to three months - Hyndman pulling the strings from deep should help us get back to basics and get over his absence.

Which means we can probably expect something like this...

Where would you play the two? Let us know in the comments.