Its safe to say that Rangers have enjoyed a fairly fine start to the season. They’ve managed to hit Hibs for six in their first competitive fixture, progressed in the League Cup and defeated St Mirren in their opening match in the league.

In those opening three ties, Gers have racked up twelve goals and conceded three.

The Ibrox club have now brought in two more new faces to bolster competition for places in the first team.

It’s with great credit to new Gers boss Mark Warburton’s reputation that Tottenham Hotspur have loaned out two highly rated youth players to Rangers.

Youngsters Dominic Ball and Nathan Oduwa have both joined the Glasgow club on season long loan deals.

Ball, an England youth international can play at centre-half as well as being deployed as a defensive midfielder. The twenty year old has been named in various Spurs first team squads but has yet to receive minutes on the pitch. He spent the end of last season on loan at League Two side Cambridge United.

Nathan Oduwa is a nineteen year old attacker who has impressed Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino, But the Argentine wants the raw forward to spend a year out on loan, so he can gain more first team exposure and learn his craft at a club like Rangers. Eredivisie sides Roda JC and AZ Alkmaar were linked with a move for the skilful Oduwa. So it be a real coup to get him at Ibrox.

If both young players are as talented as their CV’s suggest then they’ll be welcome additions to this refreshed new-look Rangers squad.

If they prove themselves at Murray Park then you can be assured Warburton will use them. These two deals could see the start of a great working relationship between the English Premier League side and Rangers, with more deals being done in the future.

But I’d imagine that Mark Warburton would still be keen on adding one more recruit to his squad. That would most likely be an experienced central midfielder, who can lead in the engine room.

Thirty-five year old John Eustace could be just the man to fill that void.

The former Derby County captain has been training with the ‘Light Blues’ in the past few weeks to prove his fitness after recovering from knee surgery, which ended his 2014/15 season prematurely.

Eustace is a player who can add a mature head in the Rangers ranks. The central midfielder also has the experience to take control of games and help dictate the tempo. The ibrox club could use that kind of player in their team, especially during the business end of the season.

Current Gers player Dean Shiels was very complimentary of Eustace and would like to see the veteran sign up:

“I’ve played against John in England when he was at Watford and Derby. He’s a very good player and he brings a wealth of experience.”

“He’s had a few injury problems of late, but hopefully once he’s fit he can be an addition. I don’t know his personal situation and I don’t know if he’s close to signing, but I know he’s a good player and he’ll have a lot to offer if he does sign.”

I think that Rangers will have a successful season this term, even if they don’t sign John Eustace.

But I also think that the ageing middleman would make the ride even smoother and help father this youthful squad on the park.

Posted on August 13th, 2015 by scott
Filed under: Article