‘We’ve all got two months to shine’

THE ins and outs of the managerial Hokey Cokey are part of the fabric of this increasingly ruthless game, writes Nick Rodger.

The choppings, changings, to-ings and fro-ings can be unsettling for all and sundry, but it’s water off a duck’s back for Martyn Waghorn.

“I’ve experienced change right from my debut at Sunderland,” said Waghorn, 27, as he began to adapt to life under the new Rangers manager, Pedro Caixhina.

“I had two managers that season and three in my time at Leicester. I think last season was the first time I haven’t had a new manager in the middle of it.

“It’s part and parcel of the game now. It’s a results business and at a top club like Rangers, if they’re not going your way, you have to expect change. As players you need to learn to deal with it and it’s harder for the younger players to accept but I’ve learned you need to get on with your job for whoever’s in charge, whether it’s interim managers or anyone else. You’re a pro, you have a job to do.

“It’s the way football is going now; possession, attacking, the transition between winning and losing the ball. Pedro has had us working hard the last few days and all the boys have been right on board.”

“Everyone has two months to show what they can do,” said Waghorn, who was moved from his wider position into a more central attacking role against Celtic last weekend and seemed to revel in his natural habitat.