Derek McInnes has urged Rangers to seize the chance to go top of the Premiership, even if it is only for 24 hours. The Ibrox club can move above Celtic into first place on Saturday by beating Kilmarnock in Govan, taking a one-point lead over their Old Firm rivals, whom Rangers beat twice in a week before the international break.
Momentum after Old Firm double
Celtic do not play Motherwell until Sunday, and McInnes wants his side to keep up the momentum they built by defeating Kilmarnock and going top. The Rangers manager, named Glen's Premiership Manager of the Month for September, has urged his players not to rest on their laurels after their double Old Firm victory and to put their feet to the floor as league action resumes.
McInnes said: "It's (going top) significant in the sense that we want to win on Saturday and keep the run going. I don't think it tells you anything at the stage of the season. But any time you get the chance to go top of the league, you've got to try and take it. Because you can only take positives from it."
He added: "The importance of these three points has the same importance of the three at Celtic Park. Players need to realise that. They can't pick and choose the games where they play well in. At this club, you've got to make sure it's an all-the-time thing and you keep working towards better performances."
Devlin sidelined for six weeks
McInnes revealed that all of his international players reported back fit and healthy ahead of the Kilmarnock clash, while Dujon Sterling has recovered from a knock. However, Australian midfielder Cammy Devlin will be out for six weeks after picking up a hamstring injury late in their 1-0 win over Celtic at Parkhead 19 days ago.
McInnes said: "Dujon had a little strain but he's been fine and training. He's one who benefited from the break. Cammy picked up a hamstring injury with two or three minutes to go at Celtic Park. He gave me a shout but it was no use because we had used all of our subs and had to see the game out. He's been scanned and he doesn't need surgery but he's still going to be out for at least the next six weeks."
McInnes critical of long break
The extended international break halted Rangers' run of six wins on the bounce, and McInnes believes it was a bad idea. He said: "The break has been too long. It's unusually long. It's the first time it has been implemented and we had players away with different federations with different staff, travelling all over the world for four games. It's tough for players being away from their families. And for us, there's a nervousness about our players being in other countries' hands for so long."
He added: "By the time we get them back in, it'll be 19 days since the Celtic game. That's longer than a lot of tournaments for some countries. I know it's set in stone for three seasons now but I'm not a fan of it."
