Rangers recruits need to stand up and prove worth

SERVETTE’S Dereck Kutesa offered a far more rational reaction than many to his side’s Champions League qualifying defeat to Rangers in midweek.

‘We were far from outclassed against a team who have a budget many times what we spend,’ stated the Swiss. He was right. And his perspective was welcome.

Having the better of the second half away from home and securing a 3-2 aggregate win after goalkeeper Jack Butland had kept them out of the soup was nothing to write home about for Rangers. Particularly when the first half had been so atrocious.

It was what should have been expected given the money being spent on first-team business these days. It was crucial to keep the heat on boss

Michael Beale (right) from reaching boiling point. The upcoming two-legged play-off with

PSV Eindhoven is different, of course. There will be no shame in defeat as long as Rangers make a fist of it. Any suggestion that anything Rangers have served up so far this season is anywhere near the level required, however, ought to be scotched immediately.

Every one of their outfield signings has a point to prove. Some have looked plain awful. And please spare us this rubbish, being heard from many quarters rather than just Ibrox, about the time it takes to gel players together and build new teams.

You expect to see something, if not the whole picture, from new players. Look at Mika Biereth at Motherwell. Off the bench against Hibs, sets up a goal, scores the winner and bowls around the place like a wrecking ball.

Cyriel Dessers take note. And Danilo, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima, in fairness. Two games against PSV aren’t going to make or break reputations or careers or patience levels. Celtic at home is just two weeks away, though. And the way Rangers look right now, that one very well might.