MEETING OF MINDS AS GIO BACKS DOC TO MAKE BIG IMPACT

IN the wake of seven new additions to his playing staff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst hopes his latest summer signing can now play a critical role in helping this revamped Rangers squad fulfil its potential.

On Thursday, the Ibrox club confirmed the addition of Dr Ceri Bowley as a new first-team coach. Previously head of coaching support at the City Football Group — with whom Van Bronckhorst worked after leaving Feyenoord in 2019 — the Welshman brings an interesting spread of experience to the Rangers backroom staff.

Holder of a PhD in sports psychology and coaching science, Bowley worked for Barry Town, Merthyr Town, Swansea City and the English FA before taking up his post with the City Football Group.

There, his role involved the creation and implementation of the ‘City Football Methodology’, which outlined principles applied in, among other areas, coaching, performance analysis and player development at the Abu Dhabiowned clubs.

With Rangers facing PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie after today’s home meeting with St Johnstone, Bowley has got straight down to work at the club’s Auchenhowie training centre.

Van Bronckhorst is confident his methods will add an important piece to the jigsaw and help individuals find a peak performance level as they pursue success this term.

‘I have worked already with Ceri and I have built up a good relationship with him,’ said the Dutchman. ‘He will help to improve our players. So the players will also work closely with him to make sure their development goes faster.’

Rangers are seeking to make it three wins out of three in the Premiership when Saints visit this afternoon. It took until the 51st minute for Kilmarnock’s resistance to be broken last weekend and Van Bronckhorst knows patience may be needed.

‘We saw last week that we had a team defending in a low block,’ he added. ‘There were not many spaces for us to play in. But we approached the game really well, with a lot of patience. Sometimes you need patience in home games.’

Van Bronckhorst will have to weigh up how best to utilise his squad ahead of the huge meeting with PSV on Tuesday night. However, with Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent both fit again, the Ibrox boss is happy with the possibilities available.

‘We have a lot of players back now, we are doing well,’ he added. ‘We’ll decide what game plan is best suited for St Johnstone.’