Thomson uses one word to describe what Rangers boss Beale is like behind scenes

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Kevin Thomson has told Sky Sports that new Rangers manager Michael Beale is a “wizard” on the training pitch and expects the Rangers squad to buy into his way of doing things at Ibrox – ahead of his first match on Thursday.

Beale, 42, returned to Rangers – but this time as manager this month, as a replacement for Giovanni van Bronckhorst. It sees him come back to Ibrox a little over a year after leaving with Steven Gerrard to become a coach at Aston Villa.

Since then, he has embarked on his own managerial career – impressing at English Championship side QPR. He won nine games in 22. That was enough to convince Rangers to bring him back. His tenure on the pitch starts on Thursday.

Rangers icon Thomson discussed what Beale is like on the training pitch and behind the scenes, calling Beale a “wizard”. He expects the squad to buy into his way of playing – especially, after a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

“There’s no doubt that Mick Beale is a wizard on the training pitch. The boys will really buy into his training. The harsh reality is, and he will know this as well as I do, that when you’re not winning games – second is nothing in Scotland.

“The pressure will come, and he will know that it will come. So far so good, he will take a lot of positives out of the win on Saturday and he will look forward to Thursday – but the harsh reality is, that they need to win games of football.”

Thomson: Rangers manager Beale is a wizard on the training pitch

What can Rangers call a success this season – with the club already out of Europe, and sitting nine points behind Celtic? Well, closing that gap to begin with. Making a real fist of it and showing green shoots of growth under Beale.

Secondly, a good January. Bringing in players that can hit the ground running and making up for a disappointing summer in which most of their signings have struggled – or become injured. Lastly, winning a Cup under Beale.

Rangers are in a semi-final against Aberdeen, which will be played on January 15. The Scottish Cup remains theirs, and they will be keen to defend that. So, there is still plenty to play for and who knows – even, a potential title race.