RECOVERY MISSION

Numan sees shades of his 1998 Gers debut season in current Ibrox crop & spells out what will make team work

to work for each other? We had players who could make a difference in the final third and defenders who were strong. Within a couple of weeks we had become a team.

“It wasn’t just the players who were on the park but the boys who weren’t playing at first. Sometimes it’s players on the bench who decide how strong you are going to be on the park.

“There was always competition. For every position we had two or three good players.

“It went quickly because we went through in the UEFA Cup.

“In the first three games we were struggling a little bit as we still had to find out about each other’s quality.

“We lost against Hearts and were lucky at home to Motherwell as we beat them 2-1 but they played really well. After that we got better and better. There was more confidence.”

Numan’s Rangers debut was fast-tracked at the insistence of Advocaat who recalled him from holiday to play in the 2-0 return-leg win at Ibrox over the Irish side. And the former full-back admits it was a mind-blowing experience.

He said: “I remember the game when we were 3-0 down to Shelbourne and I was still on holiday. Eventually we won 5-3 but Advocaat called me afterwards and said, ‘Arthur you have to come to Scotland.’

‘I said, ‘I’ve only been off for a week – I need a break after the long season.’ But he told me I had to come back. So I was only away for a week. I arrived in Scotland on the Monday then played in the second leg.

“I introduced myself on the Monday and was playing on the Tuesday or Wednesday.

“But it was a good experience because it gave me an early indication of what it means to play for Rangers when there were 50,000 fans for a game.

“Then we played Alloa early that season and I remember speaking to Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the tunnel and saying, ‘There are 50,000 people here to see us play Alloa.’

“It just showed us what it meant to play for Rangers.”

Experienced stopper Bruno Alves will arrive at the club shortly after a prolonged break and hasn’t been stained by the Luxembourg debacle.

Numan believes the Portuguese international is the perfect figure to ensure the side can stage a revival from last week’s exit.

He said: “Bruno has a lot of experience and he can be a big help to the players, especially the younger ones.

“I believe he can speak English and that’s very important because he has to be able to communicate with the other players and express himself.

“He has been brought in to help those around him but if you get knocked out in the first round of the Europa League then it’s not a good start.

“The pressure is now on and you have seen it in the press and with the supporters.

“You have to show on the park that you are a good player who wants to play for Rangers and win trophies.”

● Numan was taking part in the Manorview Group charity legends football game in association with A&M Scotland. All proceeds were donated to A&M Scotland.