Rangers test time for Bailey Rice as Philippe Clement reveals what was 'non existent' in young Ibrox star's game

Philippe Clement is looking forward to a change of pace with a rare free midweek to come.

But the Rangers boss has told his team to forget about putting their feet up as they finally enjoy the chance to get down to some serious work on the training pitch. It’s been a relentless schedule of play-recover-play for the Belgian and his side since the start of December. Having squeezed in 20 games since the November international break, their hectic workload will now ease as Clement is afforded a full week to prepare his team for next Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie against Queen’s Park.

And having skipped the Europa League play-off rounds, there will be more spare time for Clement to play with before his side resumes their continental campaign in the last 16 next month. In fact, Rangers won’t play another midweek fixture until they travel to Rugby Park on February 26 and the Ibrox boss is determined to use those idle hours for more than just R&R.

Speaking after yesterday’s 4-0 win over Ross County, Clement said: “It’s an important thing also with players coming back out of injury. I heard after the game that one player said, ‘Maybe we can get extra days off’. So I was very clear the day after that it will not be the case!

“No, it's also important to keep this momentum and keep the stride that we are doing. And that in that period, it's going to be more individualised.

“Maybe players who played more who can do a little bit less that week, but others they have to do more. But the most important thing is that to keep this hunger and desire to become better. And that's what we need to do and to use these two weeks also in the optimal best way also to become better as a squad again.”

Those extra hours on the training pitch will be key