TALKING RANGERS

THE road to recovery has been a long one for Rangers but another marker post will be passed at Ibrox this evening. This will be a journey of a different kind.

Six years after their last appearance in European competition and four after they began their climb back to the top flight, the Light Blues will return to the Europa League.

The meeting with Progres Niederkorn isn’t the most glamorous tie in Rangers’ history, nor will it be the most challenging 90 minutes they will face this term.

But it will be significant nonetheless for the 50,000 fans that will head to Ibrox as Pedro Caixinha’s side look to get the new season off and running with a victory.

The final whistle at McDiarmid Park last month started the countdown timer for Rangers as the focus immediately shifted forward. Supporters won’t look back with anger.

A campaign that promised much but delivered nothing has been consigned to the history books and now another chapter in the Ibrox tale can be written.

“It is about sharing that experience and that feeling with the fans,” Caixinha said.

“Almost three days before the match the whole stadium was completely sold out so it’s something where you really need to represent a unique club where those sort of things happen.

“Being away from this competition for six years is too long for such a massive club.

“And of course we want to enjoy the moment, we want to enjoy the moment with our fans, we want to deliver a good performance, we want to deliver a good result and have a good start of course in this new season.

“I always put the club on top of everything. This is a massive job for a team that goes from top to bottom and bottom to top.

“This is not about personal goals, it is about collective goals and when you realise your collective goals your goals are going to be included as well. But I always think as a club.”

The side that strides out at Ibrox tonight will be significantly different from the one that rounded off a forgettable term with a 2-1 win in Perth just a few weeks ago.

Eight players have been recruited during a condensed pre-season, while a handful – Clint Hill, Philippe Senderos, Emerson Hyndman, Jon Toral, Joe Garner and Andy Halliday – have already headed for the exit door.

The summer has been hectic for Rangers but the progress is