MURTY CHALLENGES RETURNING DUO TO PROVE THEIR WORTH

GRAEME MURTY has urged Andy Halliday and Michael O’Halloran to seize the rare opportunity of a second chance at Rangers. The Ibrox boss recalled the pair from loan spells at Azerbaijani club Gabala and St Johnstone, respectively, to be part of his squad for a winter training camp in Florida. Neither had a future at Rangers while Pedro Caixinha was in charge, but Murty insists it is now within their grasp to show they can be effective players in the second half of the season. ‘I’m delighted to have Andy back,’ said Murty. ‘He’s an aggressive midfield player and I think we have been light in that department. ‘He’s been here and he knows the club. And, at the end of the day, he’s just desperate to play for Rangers. ‘It’s an easy sell to him. You just say: “Look, Andy, you’ve got a second chance here and not many people get that at Rangers”. Michael O’Halloran is the same. ‘They’re getting another chance to impress and another chance to play for this great club. It’s up to them to grab it.’ Halliday has admitted he had made an error in moving to Azerbaijan, as a restriction on foreign players meant he rarely featured in an unfamiliar environment. ‘Everyone knows Andy’s love for the club and everyone knows what Rangers mean to him,’ added Murty. ‘I know he can perform, so it’s now up to him to go and do it. Prove to me he can add to the collective, prove to me he can make us better. ‘I want people to be positive in and around the group and I know that’s what Andy will bring. ‘I understand not everyone can play and not everyone can be in the match-day squad, but I want people who can energise the group when they’re not involved. ‘I want people who will make us better day in and day out, not people who will take the energy away from the group. Hopefully Andy can do that.’ St Johnstone had hoped to keep O’Halloran (below) for the rest of the campaign, but Murty feels the winger can improve on an unconvincing initial period with Rangers. ‘It’s difficult to play for this football club, but everyone will come in with a chance to impress,’ added the manager. ‘We know what Michael can do, we’ve seen it in spells at Rangers and, of course, with St Johnstone. ‘Michael’s an established performer at this level and, while he needs to find a way to add to the collective, we need to find a way to get the best out of him. ‘We need people who are in the building to make us better and we feel Michael has what it takes to do that. If he can do that, then everyone benefits.’