Derek McInnes described Lawrence Shankland as a “sensible” captain who could have a “large affect” at Rangers whether or not or not he begins video games.
Shankland was skipper below McInnes at Hearts and adopted his supervisor to Ibrox in the summertime the place he took up the identical function.
Nonetheless, the Scotland striker has not hit the bottom working in Govan and was on the bench for the 5-1 dwelling League Cup win over St Mirren on Sunday, with midfielder Nico Raskin taking the armband.
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Rangers supervisor Derek McInnes discusses the signing of Kosta Nedeljkovic from Aston Villa, Nicolas Raskin’s future, plus the Ibrox membership’s seek for wingers and a striker
Forward of the primary leg of the UEFA Convention League play-off tie towards Czech facet Jablonec at Ibrox on Thursday, McInnes stated: “I stated that after I spoke to Lawrence. Being captain doesn’t assure something, and he accepted that.
“He’s not going to stamp his ft about it. Someone must be membership captain and, having labored with Lawrence earlier than, he is a superb captain and a superb boy.
“He has loads to supply. Folks can perhaps look an excessive amount of into it.
“You need your captain to have an enormous affect on and off the pitch, and I consider Lawrence could have that.
“For me, it’s a non-question, though I perceive why individuals would possibly see extra in it.”
It has been a tricky begin for Shankland and Rangers this season
Shankland got here off the bench for the second time this season within the second half towards Saints however couldn’t add to his solitary Gers purpose thus far, a penalty towards Polish facet Jagiellonia within the Europa League qualifier.
Nonetheless, McInnes is relaxed in regards to the scenario and stated: “When you will have a participant like Lawrence, who is aware of his approach across the penalty field and tips on how to rating objectives, I don’t worry an excessive amount of about it.
“He’s too good to not rating recurrently. He has constantly proven that over a time frame within the Premiership, with 20-odd objectives a season at Hearts.
“Generally individuals can overemphasise this stuff.
“For me, it’s a case of letting him play his pure sport.
“The most effective strikers have that instinctive facet to their sport, the place all the things appears to be like pure and seamless. I’ve little doubt he’ll do properly right here.”
Earlier within the day, Rangers confirmed that Kosta Nedeljkovic had signed from Aston Villa on a season-long mortgage take care of the Gers having an obligation to purchase.
Kosta Nedeljkovic has joined Rangers from Aston Villa
The 20-year-old Serbia worldwide, McInnes’ eleventh summer season signing, will deal with Dujon Sterling and Ross McCrorie for the right-back place.
McInnes stated: “It was a place we recognized at first of pre-season. We checked out varied choices. The membership had been reliant on Dujon, who has had his historical past of accidents, so we wished to herald a distinct sort of full-back.
“I’ve bought a excessive opinion of Dujon, however with Kosta you get a participant much like (midfielder) Vanja (Dragojevic) in a full-back place: actual enthusiasm, athleticism and the power to rise up and down the pitch.
“He exhibits good high quality and an actual eagerness to play the function.
“As a younger participant, there’ll nonetheless be areas to enhance, however we’re trying ahead to serving to him develop.”