BAZ MUST PROVE HE IS REAL DEAL
PEDRO CAIXINHA has tipped Barrie McKay to shine on the European and international stage – but only if he can continue to improve his game at Ibrox.
The winger has made 40 appearances for the Light Blues this term but was dropped for the trip to Pittodrie last weekend as Rangers beat Aberdeen.
McKay has yet to agree an extension to his Gers contract and Caixinha believes there is plenty of scope for him to take his game to another level.
He said: “Barrie is included on the list of our players, we have our assessment and I am not going to respond to any comments in newspapers.
“I can speak about his talent – we have no doubt that he is a fantastic
player, with his qualities and his skills. But I want more than just a skilful player. I want him to be more aggressive, to see the game differently, to be more pro-active and to give more to the collective side.
“Those are the things we are working on with him and the fact he is a fantastic player makes that easier to add more tools to what he already has.
“Barrie could reach European and international team level – that’s what I want to happen.
“Of course, if he helps us here first then that is what we want.”
While McKay could be a key player for Caixinha in the coming weeks and next season, there are doubts over the Ibrox future of fellow forward Michael O’Halloran.
The 26-year-old failed to turn up for an Under-20 match on Monday night after being left out of the squad for the 3-0 win over the Dons.
But Caixinha insists the situation will be dealt with internally at Auchenhowie as he continues to consider the future of his Gers players. He said: “It’s something that happens with our family. When I have some problems with my own kids in my family I am not going to go public with them.
“If we have some problems inside, like all teams normally have in a small situation, we solve it inside.
“Sometimes it happens. I have my own rules in my family. My kids for example know what I allow and they know what I don’t allow.
“When these sort of things happen I need to get involved as a father. I look upon my players as my sons and I am the father who has to take decisions. But as I told you, they stay at home.
“I’ve never that strong with my kids. I just want them to learn.
“These things stay at home and if I tell you I am breaking that.”