Steven Davis Rangers future addressed by Michael Beale as boss talks up revamped squad 'variety'

Michael Beale is confident his new-look strikeforce’s numbers are starting to add up. The Rangers boss has named five different frontline combinations in the first six games of he season.

And with summer signings Cyriel Dessers, Danilo, Abdallah Sima and Sam Lammers all off the mark - along with Rabbi Matondo who notched in the midweek draw with PSV Eindhoven - he reckons early season doubts have been shot down. Dessers in particular had come in for early criticism over his strike rate. But Beale said: “Is it five starts, two goals and three assists? And he could have had a couple of other goals to be fair. His numbers are where they need to be. Danilo has scored goals and has had other chances to score more.

“Sima scored a fantastic goal in midweek. Rabbi has now decided that he’s going to score goals as well. So it’s all alright. At the moment it feels like there’s a bit of a bottleneck. I get it because the games are so early. I want that variety – different challenges and different things.

“At Dingwall, if we go with Dessers and Roofe that’s a different challenge for Malky that he wasn’t expecting. Likewise, if we go with Matondo or Sima or Danilo, that’s another issue that it makes hard for the other manager to prepare.

“With nine games across the first month of the season you have to rotate, or else you end up in the position you were in with injuries after the first international break and you are playing catch up.”

Meanwhile, Beale revealed free agent Steven Davis could still have a future at Ibrox as he continues to train with his squad. The 38-year-old midfielder suffered a double ACL tear last December. But Beale admits his composure on the ball would have been ideal in Tuesday’s frantic first leg against PSV.