Buying British may give Rangers edge in being best of the rest, says McInnes

HIS Aberdeen side have made the ‘best of the rest’ tag their own over the last few seasons but Derek McInnes insists Rangers are now ‘huge favourites’ to finish second in the Scottish Premiership after finally getting their act together in the transfer market.

The Pittodrie manager enters the Ibrox bear pit for the first time tonight since turning down the chance to occupy the home dugout. That knockback paved the way for Graeme Murty to be handed the reins until the end of the season and McInnes admits he has been impressed by his January recruitment drive.

The arrival of Scottish trio Russell Martin, Jamie Murphy and Jason Cummings, as well as QPR midfielder Sean Goss, have bolstered the Ibrox ranks — and is a change of strategy from Pedro Caixinha’s foreign influx.

McInnes, whose side lead Rangers by three points ahead of tonight’s match, believes the favouring of British players has strengthened the Ibrox side’s chances of finishing behind Celtic.

‘At the start of the season, Rangers were huge favourites to finish second and I think with the signings they have just made, it’s even more so,’ he insisted.

‘They have made some good, short-term signings this month, adding three international players. Only Celtic and Rangers are able to go out and do that.

‘I think they have made really good signings, in Russell Martin, Jamie Murphy and Jason Cummings, who are all internationals. I also know a lot about Sean Goss, who is another very good signing.

‘I think they are all signings that you would have expected Rangers to make previously.’

McInnes, however, insists Aberdeen won’t be making life easy on their rivals. And after backto-back defeats to the Ibrox club, his side have a point to prove.

‘We want to meet the demands we have set at this club,’ he continued.

‘We have been second in the league for the last few years and we overcame the challenge from Rangers last season.

‘We also overcame the challenge of Hearts (last season) when people mooted them as real contenders for us.

‘In the last few years we did it quite comfortably but we recognise that this season is a tougher ask because Rangers are huge favourites.

‘But win, lose or draw at Ibrox tonight there is still a lot of work to be done.’

The subplot to the match concerns McInnes, himself, and his decision not to return to his former club. Murty has already warned that the atmosphere could be ‘tasty’.

‘I have no idea what reception I’ll get but it’s not important to me,’ said McInnes. ‘What is important to me is the players and what’s happening on the pitch.

‘All the other stuff that goes on when you go away to other grounds is immaterial.

‘I am more concerned about making sure we get off to a better start than anything else.’

Having racked up back-to-back victories over the Pittodrie men during his period as caretaker boss, Murty is now looking to continue that winning run.

‘I don’t think any RangersAberdeen game needs any extra edge,’ he said. ‘There always seems to be something going on.

‘Derek made his position perfectly clear. We respect his position. He is staying at a good football club, with a good squad that he is putting together really well.

‘We have to respect them and respect what they are about but, hopefully, take the positive energy from doing well against them twice into this game.

‘The atmosphere will be tasty but they always are in these games.’

Asked if he was surprised at McInnes’ decision, the former Scotland defender added: ‘Yes, I had a weekend away planned with my family!

‘But he didn’t take the job so those plans changed; that’s football. You can’t work in this wonderful business without taking these occasions for what they are.

‘I was going to be going down to Norwich with my wife and the little one and spending time with friends for a long weekend. It didn’t happen.

‘But, listen, let’s not moan about the fact that I am Rangers manager. I am sure there are loads of people whose hearts don’t exactly bleed for me.

‘Derek didn’t come, I didn’t get a weekend away. But what I did get was another unbelievable opportunity at this place and I am unbelievably fortunate.’