One of the biggest issues last season was that Rangers didn’t have any strength in depth but the squad against Newcastle United was as much about who wasn’t there as who was.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale both had lengthy injury lists but the treatment room back log is gradually clearing.
Before the standard raft of changes, Rangers held their own against Newcastle United, restricting them to one shot on target with a host of top players unavailable.
Rangers depth apparent against Newcastle with quality absentees
In defence, the Rangers vice-captain and organiser in chief, Connor Goldson is yet to return to full training and wasn’t fit for the visit of Newcastle but he should be back soon according to Michael Beale.
Tom Lawrence will bring experience, creativity, goals and a dig that was missing for much of last campaign in midfield and further forward.
To say he will be like a new signing is a cliché, but an accurate one given he hasn’t played since last September.
The forward line is the same.
Rabbi Matondo, Fashion Sakala and Scott Wright ended the friendly as the front three but there were a couple of noticeable and top quality absentees.
Cyriel Dessers is our most expensive signing of the summer and thankfully, he is only short of fitness rather than being on the treatment table.
Fans will get a glimpse of him against Hamburg on Saturday.
Then there is Kemar Roofe.
The Jamaica international hasn’t had his troubles to seek over the last couple of seasons but after a hip operation earlier in the year, there are high hopes that he can play a more important role.
Four players, all hugely talented, none of which were available as we went toe to toe with a team that has just forked out £55m on one player and was littered with mulit-million pound players.
Optimism is slowly building and Rangers fans finally have a right to be excited after what they did, and didn’t see against Newcastle.
