The Rangers team have been spotted back at Auchenhowie being put through their paces ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee.
The Ibrox side split off for the international fortnight after that stunning late victory over Celtic, with almost two weeks having passed since the last time Rangers kicked a ball.
Now the Rangers team are back together once again getting ready for Saturday evening’s late kick-off at Dens Park.
We’ve had a dramatic international break in the meantime, albeit John Souttar couldn’t prevent Scotland’s humiliation v Greece.
Nicolas Raskin earned Belgium plaudits on his first stint with the Red Devils, whilst Hamza Igamane impressed with Morocco and earned his first international cap.
Of the 12 players who were off on international duty, interim Rangers manager Barry Ferguson has finally gotten all of them back into the Rangers Training Centre.
As the Rangers team clipped being put through their paces at Auchenhowie, here’s five things we thought stood out.
Oscar Cortes back on training pitch
Oscar Cortes could have a big future in the game but first the Colombian winger needs to start making an impression at Rangers.
Joining the club in January 2024 on a loan deal from RC Lens, Cortes has seen his first 14 months in Glasgow decimated by injury.
Nils Koppen saw enough to sanction a £4m loan-to-buy extension for Cortes in the summer, only for the winger to spend the entire season sidelined.
There are two months left for Cortes to show us what he’s made of this season and the winger was snapped in full-training at the Rangers Training Centre.
Hungry Danilo has Rangers point to prove
Brazilian striker Danilo has yet to be given a chance under Barry Ferguson but the ex-Feyenoord hitman was looking fresh and hungry in Rangers training.
Danilo was frustrated that he never got off the bench v Fenerbahce and with Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane in front of him, has found chances limited.
Like Cortes, Danilo has been woefully unlucky with injury problems since moving to Rangers and the club has been unable to keep the striker consistently fit.
But if the latest Rangers training video is anything to go by, Danilo could start to repay the £6m the Gers paid for his services before we know it.
Rangers boosted by array of defensive options
Rangers have not had their injury problems to seek at the heart of defence this season but things appear to be taking an upturn.
Experienced defenders John Souttar, Leon Balogun and Robin Propper all took part in training and will hope to be selected against Dundee.
Dujon Sterling was spotted in training, whilst Clinton Nsiala and Lille loanee Rafael Fernandes were also being put through their paces.
Jefte missed the Old Firm victory at Celtic Park but was back amongst his teammates, even if he’ll have to depose a fully fit Ridvan Yilmaz from left-back.
No sign of Vaclav Cerny or Mohamed Diomande
Speaking before the game Barry Ferguson claimed that there could be one or two knocks from the international fortnight.
In this week’s training video, Rangers internationals Hamza Igamane, John Souttar, Ianis Hagi, Nedim Bajrami, Liam Kelly and Nicolas Raskin were all visible.
Vaclav Cerny has been praised by Barry Ferguson but despite making an appearance walking into Auchenhowie, didn’t appear to be involved in training.
Neither did Ivory Coast international Mohamed Diomande.
Issame Charai building Rangers rapport
Issame Charai was just weeks in the door before Philippe Clement was sacked at Rangers.
The Moroccan coach was signed to replace the outgoing Andries Ulderink, Charai admitting Clement’s sacking came as a shock.
But despite being the odd-one-out on Barry Ferguson’s Rangers coaching team of Ibrox legends, Charai is a visible and engaging part of Ibrox training.
The former Strasbourg coach appears to have built up a strong rapport with several of the Ibrox squad already.
