PASSION PLAY
Beattie believes Rangers fan Dorrans will bring an extra spark to the park
WHEN Graham Dorrans emerged from the West Brom bench to make his debut against Manchester City, he was weighed down by no more than a £100,000 price tag and a reputation that had caused not one ripple of anticipation in the English top flight.
Craig Beattie, who formed a partnership with Dorrans that evening as the kid from Livingston made light of the occasion to inspire a 2-1 victory, won’t be alone in suspecting the Scotland midfielder has a heftier burden to carry ahead of his competitive bow for Rangers.
The Ibrox fans are searching for a hero with their interests at heart as the summer-signing policy has been dominated by imports from Portuguese and Mexican transfer markets. Dorrans undoubtedly fits the bill since being brought in from Norwich for £1.3million days after the Europa League humbling in Luxembourg.
That is a status Beattie expects Dorrans to be comfortable with and, indeed, relish.
Dorrans was Pedro Caixinha’s ninth capture in another summer of upheaval and former Celtic striker Beattie ranks his ex-Hawthorns team-mate as the most important.
‘I think it’s vital,’ said Beattie. ‘The season hasn’t even started yet and Rangers fans are in need of a boost from someone signing who is one of their own, has the passion as they do, someone who cares.
‘But knowing that Graham has that is some comfort to Rangers fans and a positive for them. It was no secret he was a Rangers fan at West Brom, so I thought that it could be a potential destination for him at some point.
‘I’m delighted that, at this stage of his career and after what he’s achieved down south, he’s still at an age where he has lots to offer Rangers. At some point, I thought he’d go back to Scotland and it was obvious Rangers would be the place.
‘Ultimately, it will come down to performances. But knowing the ability and what he can offer, I think it’s a huge signing and a positive one.’
Beattie (right), preparing for his second season with Edinburgh City, watched another former colleague, Scott Sinclair, tear up the Ladbrokes Premiership last season. The 33-year-old teamed up with Sinclair at Swansea after leaving Dorrans at West Brom and found the Englishman’s first campaign in Scotland no surprise.
His fear for Dorrans is that no matter how impressive he turns out to be for his boyhood heroes on his return to Glasgow, no individual effort will be sufficient to trouble the dominance of Brendan Rodgers and his stars, including Sinclair.
‘Dorrans has got vision and passing, good discipline, he knows when to secure the ball and when to go forward with it,’ said Beattie.
‘He knows how to try to manage and control games and won’t be fazed by Old Firm matches. As for how it works with the other signings? I just do not know. And whether it will be enough to start to bridge the gap, well, it is absolutely massive.
‘For years the Glasgow clubs have signed the best players from other Scottish teams, but I’m not sure it
will be enough.
‘Rangers fans will be looking for someone to have an impact like Sinclair. He’s been incredible but was brought here by a manager who knew him. Whether Pedro’s signings are up to the standard of what Brendan was signing with Sinclair, I really don’t know.’
Dorrans helped both West Brom and Norwich to promotions, although a regular turnover of managers at both clubs proved a hindrance to him being an established Premier League starter. Happy to be back home, Dorrans returns to his roots with nine years of high-class experience to bring to Rangers.
‘To come from a club like Livingston and into the Premier League was a huge step up for him when he joined us at West Brom,’ recalled Beattie. ‘He very quickly adapted to the level. As time has gone on he’s added other strings to his bow mentally, physically, tactically and technically.
‘Ten years down the line, he’s still playing at an incredibly high level and that’s great credit to him.’
Knowing his ability, I think he’s a huge signing for the club