A month after arriving at Ibrox Carlos Pena has been sent on a special fitness programme.
The chunky midfielder with a flair for religious tattoos was given a brief run in the friendly against Marseilles but has been posted missing from the wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Motherwell.
Sevco paid a reported fee of £3.5m for the former Mexican internationalist but there’s no sign yet of him breaking into Caixinha’s star-studded midfield.
Explaining his absence yesterday to the Daily Record the fifth best coach in Qatar explained: “Carlos is having special training in order for him to get the right rhythm and levels. It’s specific work with him not just on the pitch but off it as well.
“That’s because when it’s the right moment we want to give him the chance. So far we think it’s not the right moment.
“We want to have him involved as soon as possible but he is getting there. He wants to be ready and we are working to make that happen.”
Caixinha noted Pena’s impressive form while he was managing Santos Laguna, when the midfielder signed up to the agency run by Pedro Mendes a transfer to Ibrox was almost inevitable.
With no Development League fixtures to provide match practise the 27-year-old will need to join up with Graeme Murty’s u-20 squad to play in glamour friendlies to gain match fitness.
Caixinha is hopeful that Jordan Rossiter can resume full training in 7-10 days after recovering from a minor injury setback.