Rangers defender Tuur Rommens admits the squad is bracing for a hostile reception from Hearts fans when Derek McInnes returns to Tynecastle on Wednesday night. But he believes the Ibrox manager has given his new-look team the tools to handle the pressure.
McInnes' return and player moves
McInnes came close to leading Hearts to a title win last season but left the Edinburgh club to join Rangers, his boyhood heroes. He arrived to find Lawrence Shankland, the former Hearts captain, already in Glasgow after exercising a clause in his contract to join on a free transfer. Cammy Devlin also moved to Rangers after his Tynecastle deal expired.
With both players currently injured, the Gorgie crowd's anger is expected to focus on McInnes as he returns to the capital for the first time since his exit. Rommens, however, says the Rangers squad expects to face the brunt of that hostility too.
Rommens on pressure and preparation
"Yes, I think Hearts, because of what they did last year, and also now that the gaffer is here and with Shanks and Cammy, so there's a little bit more pressure on the game. But we'll be ready for it on Wednesday," Rommens said.
"I think the manager gives us a lot of tools to work with and he gives you confidence to do your stuff on the pitch with guidelines. I think you can see it on the pitch now. The first couple of games was difficult but afterwards we're getting better and better and everybody understood what was expected from him. I think it can only get better."
Rangers' recent form and title ambitions
Hearts finished above Rangers last season, pushing them to third. Rangers took just one point from their opening two Premiership fixtures this campaign, but have since won eight of their last nine games.
Rommens sees Wednesday's trip to Tynecastle as a chance to dent Hearts' title hopes. "Yes, exactly. We need to finish above them. There's no doubt about it," he said.
McInnes made strengthening the squad's core his main priority after taking over from Danny Rohl. Rommens said the true test of a mentality change will come at the end of the season. "Yes, I think so but we need to make it true. You can say it at the end of the season if there was a mentality change or not. We just need to keep going and not speak about last season or something," he said.
"We just need to keep going and do our best. If a lot of players leave and a lot of players come in, you need to adapt. It's not easy for everybody and also for the players who were here, new players, players coming in. It's difficult but after a couple of games we got used to it."
