Shankland prepared to shoulder scrutiny

Graphic detailing Lawrence Shankland's Hearts statsImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Lawrence Shankland had a combined 117 goal contributions in 171 games for Hearts

Former captain Tavernier was often the fall guy among the support for Rangers’ failings, despite arguably being the club’s best player over the past decade.

Criticism often felt unfair, but Shankland acknowledges that scrutiny comes with wearing the armband of such a demanding club.

Supporters of the Ibrox side have long called for the signing of the striker for his goalscoring ability, but his experience in Scottish football and status as a boyhood fan will also tick boxes in their eyes.

Rangers now have a manager in the dugout and a captain on the pitch who the fans feel ‘get it’, and Shankland insists he is prepared to shoulder the scrutiny if it means he has the chance to become a successful captain at Ibrox.

“At times when things are difficult, people do look to the captain to answer for the squad,” Shankland reported. “That’s something I’ll need to be responsible for.

“But on the flip side of that, the rewards of being successful at this football club, and being a successful captain, far outweigh [the potential scrutiny] by miles.”

Boss McInnes, who also moved from Tynecastle to Ibrox this summer, added: “The advantage Lawrence had is that I’ve got evidence of how well he runs a dressing room from Hearts.

“He’s got the experience. We’re still quite a young dressing room. He knows the club, supported the club, and knows what’s expected of him and me and the team.”

Scottish Premiership: Dundee Utd v Rangers

Friday, 31 July (20:00 BST)

Tannadice Park

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Listen to live match commentary of the opening match of the new Scottish Premiership season on BBC Sounds and watch highlights on the BBC iPlayer.

Rangers close in on Makhanya with Antman set to depart

McInnes hopes the appeal lodged against his four-game ban for comments made about a controversial penalty awarded to Celtic last season will allow him to be on the touchline for his Rangers debut on Friday night.

The manager wants his players to embrace a challenging opening fixture and also hopes to have two new additions by the time his side travel to Tannadice.

One of those is expected to be South Africa centre-back Olwethu Makhanya, who is closing in on a move from Philadelphia Union, while the other is “quite an important one for us position-wise”, McInnes reported.

The Ibrox boss has been seeking defensive reinforcements, but John Souttar could be on his way out of the club.

McInnes reported the Scotland centre-back “might have one or two options” and could leave to get regular game time.

A deal has been agreed for winger Oliver Antman to leave after a year at Rangers, but the club have received no contact regarding Nicolas Raskin, who will return on Thursday after an impressive World Cup with Belgium.

Meanwhile, midfield duo Thelo Aasgaard and Cammy Devlin are expected to be fit for Friday’s match after taking knocks in the friendly draw with West Ham.

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