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Rangers boss Mark Warburton says Robbie Neilson situation will not affect Hearts players

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Sky Sports News HQ understands Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is expected to hold talks with MK Dons about becoming their new manager.

Mark Warburton insists Robbie Neilson's possible move to MK Dons will have no impact on Rangers' meeting with Hearts on Wednesday night.

Neilson is scheduled to travel south on Tuesday afternoon for talks with the Sky Bet League One side about replacing Karl Robinson, according to Sky sources, after it was confirmed on Monday that they had made an official approach.

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He will be in charge of Hearts, possibly for the last time, against Rangers in Edinburgh and Warburton, who was sporting director at Brentford when Neilson had a loan spell at the club, does not expect the Tynecastle side's players to lose focus as they look to climb to second in the Scottish Premiership.

"All I know is I had Robbie at Brentford, he was a top professional as a player, he is a very talented manager and he has a very big future in the game," he said.

Mark Warburton looks on during Rangers' training session
Image: Mark Warburton expects Hearts players to be fully focussed on the game on Wednesday

"I like him enormously. I am very impressed with Robbie and he has a very bright career ahead, I am sure, but I am only focused on Rangers and he will deal with what he has to deal with.

Rangers' Harry Forrester celebrates his late goal with Jason Holt
Image: Rangers travel to Tynecastle on Wednesday night

"It doesn't [impact], it is about your relationship with the players and I am sure Robbie has a very strong relationship. The most important people are the players. We do what we do in our capacity but at the end of the day it is about the players.

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Highlights of Rangers' last-gasp 2-1 victory away at Partick Thistle in the SPFL.

"It is an important game tomorrow night and I am sure their focus will be as equally as strong as ours.

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"It doesn't affect our preparation, we go there and respect them but it is just about Rangers from our perspective."

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