When Michael Beale took his first training session as Rangers manager, he was probably more than a little surprised to see most of the squad staying in the gym or in the treatment room looking out to the practice pitches.
Having only been away for a year, most of the squad was intact but there was one addition to the first team that came as a pleasant surprise to the new Gers gaffer.
🎙️ In conversation with Michael Beale.
The manager joined @Sports_EmmaD and @KThomsonAcademy in the Blue Sky Lounge to discuss the start of his spell in charge at Rangers.
📺 Watch the extended feature: https://t.co/vpi2j7NR8R
👉 Subscribe To RTV: https://t.co/nLczsr3Wob pic.twitter.com/Ou3gvnw9LU— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 15, 2023
Speaking to Emma Dodds and Kevin Thomson in a wide -ranging interview on Rangers TV, Beale reserved praise for Adam Devine but also explained what he is looking for from any of his squad who might not be content with their current game time:
“Adam Devine was the big surprise of my first month and I’ve been absolutely delighted with him. I watched him in your (Kevin Thomson’s) B team when I was here previously and didn’t know what way it would go for him as a young father but he’s done absolutely fantastic.
I just love his humility and his attitude and I’ve asked the senior players to make sure he doesn’t move on that.
“There’s one or two others coming through, I think what’s important is, when I bring them over, that I’m showing trust in them.
“With every single player here, if they come and see me and ask me “why am I not playing?” I’ve asked them only to knock on the door and answer this question “would your team-mates pick you?”.
“And I won’t budge from that.”
Beale has gradually been able to get greater consistency of selection with his team as players return from injury and it looks as though this is the sort of approach he will take during a more congested fixture list too.
He reflects on our success in our title winning season and run to the Europa League final as well as on Liverpool’s Premier League win and how there should be a core of seven or eight players who play most weeks.
That core should be made up of our best players and, Beale is right, if a player who is on the fringes can’t say that they are better than Connor Goldson or Ryan Kent then they don’t have much of an argument. The plan being that they work harder in training and when they do get the chance to impress.
Hopefully, it’s a plan that pays off.