Rangers manager Derek McInnes must be climbing the walls already while checking his mobile phone every two minutes, according to legendary Ibrox captain Barry Ferguson.
This is the international break from hell - and one that the Rangers manager could have done without. On the one hand he’ll be delighted that so many of his players have been called up by their countries as that’s a sign that his squad is in better shape than it has been in a long, long time. He’s counted 13 of them out of the doors of Auchenhowie and Ferguson guarantees he’ll be sitting there with his fingers and toes crossed hoping that they all come back in one piece.
‘Go and enjoy yourself boys and then get your arses back here because we have got some serious work to do!’. That will have been the message he sent them away with and Ferguson is sure he’ll be keeping an eye on how they are getting on, wherever they are in the world right now.
Break at the wrong time
Let’s be honest, this break is going on for too long. It’s less than two weeks ago that Rangers beat Celtic at Parkhead but that derby already feels like it was a month ago. It was a brilliant way for them to sign off and it came on the back of a block of games which have put Derek and his side in a very strong place.
Five consecutive league wins and a place secured in the semi final of the League Cup against Aberdeen. Momentum building. The team beginning to look the part, with relationships blossoming. Yeah, this shut down has come at entirely the wrong time and Ferguson thinks there will be clubs all over Europe thinking the same thing. Four international games at one time is just too much.
But, from Rangers’ point of view, it’s just a matter of hoping that they all come back with a clean bill of health and that they are ready to rock for the visit of Kilmarnock a week on Saturday. That’s why Derek will be counting down the clock already. He’ll probably only get his full squad back together on the Thursday and as soon as they walk back in through that door it’s all about getting them refocussed and switched back on.
Reminder of what got them there
What they can’t afford to do is forget all the things that got them into this situation, two points off the top of the table and a couple of games away from lifting the first silverware of the season. It was down to hard work, hunger and sheer desire and these are the key ingredients they have to get back to as quickly as possible. Del will sit them down and remind them of that at the first opportunity.
This six game winning streak didn’t happen by accident. It came about through blood, sweat, tears and determination to dig themselves out of a hole and turn the season around after a difficult few weeks together at the start.
That’s it. That’s all they need to hear. A quick five minute reminder just to make sure their heads are back in the game and they understand the importance of what lies ahead. Ferguson is sure the players will understand that too but it's a matter of getting their feet back on the ground and drumming it into them that they’ve won nothing yet.
Progress and international call-ups
The good news is that they will be coming back in knowing that they are on the right path, moving together in a positive direction. So now they have to put the foot to the floor before the next international break comes around in November. But the number of players who are involved in this break does tell you a story about how far Rangers have come in a short space of time.
Ferguson initially assumed that around four or five of them would be away. But the fact that 13 of them have been called up at the one time just shows that Rangers are in a healthy place right now. In the space of just a couple of years it’s been a very encouraging transformation. There’s still a long way to go, of course, but it’s a sign of just how far Rangers have come, with a renewed sense of purpose and professionalism.
It’s so pleasing to see the huge strides that have been made over such a very short space of time - and the fact that so many of the current squad are currently on international duty is more evidence of the progress that’s been made.
It also didn’t escape Ferguson’s attention on Tuesday night when Nathan Patterson, Billy Gilmour and his nephew Lewis were all in Scotland’s starting XI against Switzerland. Again, you can't help but think to yourself how different things might have been at Ibrox today if the three of them had got into the first team together. They might still be there just now.
But there’s no point in looking back and those three boys, who are all playing their club football in Italy now, have got big futures still ahead of them. Obviously, Lewis did his media duties ahead of the game and he talked again about maybe playing for Rangers one day. Ferguson enjoyed listening to him because he thinks, for a young man, he spoke with maturity and honesty.
And Ferguson is not just saying this because he’s family, he thinks Lewis comes across very well. Yes, one day he would love to see it happen and who knows? Maybe all three of these boys could end up back at Ibrox together at some point in the future.
But that’s for another time and place. Right now it’s all about ticking off the days in the diary until Derek gets his team back together. Because the hard work for Rangers this season is only just about to begin.
