Cammy Devlin could not hide a wry smile when asked if he was confident of being a surefire starter for Rangers following his summer switch from last season’s title rivals, Heart of Midlothian.
As if the Australia 28-year-old did not know it before his return from the World Cup, his first couple of training sessions were a reminder of the plethora of players already competing for the central midfield berths with the Ibrox side.
And media questions at his first public press conference also emphasised the number of players in his position still being linked with a possible summer transfer to the Scottish Premiership club.
New manager Derek McInnes hopes to complete a couple more deals – not necessarily midfielders, though – before they start their season away to Dundee United in the top flight on Friday evening.
So who are Devlin’s rivals in the Ibrox engine room?
Surplus of defensive playmakers?
Three of Rangers’ seven summer signings – and none of their 11 departures – are central midfielders.
Yet they already had six on their books – nine if you include three who were out on loan.
Considering they are attacking midfielders, you can discount Thelo Aasgaard, who has just been to the World Cup with Norway, and Nedim Bajrami, who has failed to become a regular starter in his two years at Ibrox, as competition for the more defensively minded Devlin.
Likewise, Jose Cifuentes, Lyall Cameron and 20-year-old Paul Nsio, considering they have returned from Toronto, Aberdeen and Raith Rovers, respectively, without having suggested they are ready to make the step up.
Ivory Coast international Mohamed Diomande, whose form dipped in his second full season at Ibrox, is more a box-to-box man.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Raskin has looked more effective pushing forward for Rangers despite preferring to play just in front of the defence.
It was, though, in that latter role that the Belgium international received rave reviews at the World Cup, making it ever more likely that Rangers will look to cash in this summer on a player who has expressed his desire to move to a top-five league.
Given Raskin’s anticipated exit, it was no surprise McInnes would look to snap up Devlin, given the Australian was a key player in their title challenge together with Hearts – especially as he was available for free.
However, Rangers have also added two more defensive midfielders – Dan Neil, who was out of contract with Sunderland, and Vanja Dragojevic, purchased from Partizan, where he was captain at the age of just 20.
That is before considering two more defensive midfielders already on Rangers’ books.
Scotland cap Connor Barron must have been relishing the arrival of his former Aberdeen manager as he seeks more regular starts, while Tochi Chukwuani is still bedding in after his January arrival from Sturm Graz.
Meanwhile, Rangers continue to be linked with a current Sturm Graz defensive midfielder, Ryan Fosso.
At least Jens Hjerto-Dahl, for whom Rangers have reportedly had bids rejected by Tromso, is more attack minded.
Devlin hails ‘quality’ of midfield rivals
Serbia’s Vanja Dragojevic watched Sunday’s friendly while waiting for a visa [SNS]
No wonder Devlin insists he is taking nothing for granted despite his close relationship with McInnes.
“It is a massive challenge when you come to a club of this size with a history of winning,” he said.
“Not that at Hearts I expected to play ever week – that definitely wasn’t the case.
“There will definitely be challenges. There’s a lot of great midfielders.
“I’ve only just been here a couple of days training with the boys, but the quality in the squad, which I already knew because I played against them, is really high.”
Devlin was asked if he was surprised that Rangers continue to be linked with midfielders.
“It’s normal to be linked with good players that are costing a lot of money,” he said.
“If you come here and don’t expect that, you’re probably not in the right head space.”
Devlin had been offered a new contract to extend his five years at Tynecastle and had options elsewhere, including Major League Soccer.
However, when McInnes moved to Ibrox, the same man who had been trying to persuade him to stay at Hearts was able to convince him to move along the M8 despite potentially greater competition for a starting place.
“I’ve never got anywhere in life without just fighting as hard as I can,” Devlin said.
“It wasn’t easy to get here. The same as the national team, it’s hard to get there, but it’s even harder to stay there.
“That’s something I pride myself on – my hard work, treating every training session and every game like it might be my last.”
It was Devlin who anchored the midfield, with Diomande and Aasgaard in front in Rangers’ final pre-season friendly – a goalless draw with West Ham United on Sunday.
McInnes still seeking ‘a bit of stardust’
No matter who wins the battle for places, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday questions whether his former club have so far improved that area of the pitch.
“Last season, there was a real lack of creativity from midfield,” he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.
“They have 11 midfielders at the club right now and, for me, none of them can dictate a game.
“They are all very much in the same mould, dogged out of possession, tidy players, but none that can score goals or create chances.”
For that reason, Halliday expects McInnes to add to his midfield further.
“They still have so much business to do,” he added.
“The manager has got characters in to improve the mentality and then they can sprinkle a bit of stardust with the next three or four signings.”
However, speaking after the Ibrox draw with West Ham, McInnes hinted it would be to a yet-to-be signed winger to whom he would look to provide extra ammunition for his strikers.
“The one area of the pitch we are really strong is through the middle of the park just now,” he said.
“Nico will be back this week, but after so many games played and his World Cup exploits, we never planned for Nico to be back for Dundee United, but I’ve got good options in there and it’s an area we are particularly strong.”
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