Arthur Numan hands Philippe Clement a Rangers deadline for silverware as boss told he's in a 'different ball game' now

Arthur Numan has told new Rangers boss Philippe Clement to make a League Cup triumph his first target at Ibrox.

The Dutchman insists it’s vital his former club get through next week’s semi-final against Hearts at Hampden then lift the trophy on December 17. Numan has been impressed by the Belgian’s start at Ibrox since taking over from Michael Beale. But he has warned Clement the job will be like nothing he has faced before.

And that’s why he believes getting some silverware early in his Rangers tenure will be crucial to any future success. Numan said: “It’s a job that comes with massive pressure and Philippe needs to be able to handle that aspect of it. I appreciate that he has worked in Belgium and won titles there. He also managed Monaco – and that was a big job too.

“But nothing will compare to what he faces now at Ibrox. This is a different ball game. The bottom line is he needs to win trophies. And he has a great chance of doing that as he has inherited a place in the League Cup semi-final.

“He could have a piece of silverware in the cabinet on December 17th. That has to be the aim. That needs to be the first target for him. There will be a level of expectancy that he delivers – and rightly so.

“Parts of the current situation remind me a wee bit of when Alex McLeish took over from Dick Advocaat midway through the 2001/02 season. We were well behind Celtic in the league but focused on winning the cup double.

“We managed to win both and the real beauty of it was that we beat Celtic in both competitions. I hope the same level of success is just around the corner for Philippe and the current squad.”

Numan admits catching Celtic at the top of the Premiership will be a far tougher task for Clement and his staff. They’re