Micky Beale looks into the treatment room at Murray Park and sees next season’s Dream Team.
The former QPR boss has so far been denied the services of some big earners as he assesses the squad that he inherited from Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Beale has already worked with most of the crocks, as a keen student of the game he also knows the life story of Tom Lawrence although strangely John Souttar and Ridvan Yilmaz are omitted from a role call of the walking wounded.
Fil Helander hasn’t played a single minute this season but is tipped to return in three months time with the new boss anxious to work again with the Swede who has started 35 SPFL matches since moving from Bologna in July 2019.
Discussing that case, Beale told The Sun:
I see him in here every day and it must be so difficult. We’ve got a few players in the same boat.
If I look at the squad this season, no Helander, no Ianis Hagi, Kemar Roofe barely, Tom Lawrence barely.
They are all big players for Rangers. They are all arguably starters or definitely players in rotation of subs. I think it’s been a bit unfair.
I’m probably in a job because of those scenarios, where a player has got injured and the manager hasn’t been able to select him for the team.
You get dealt the results that come your way. At a club like this you need players like that fit. And probably towards the end of the season we’ll be asking how many starts we’ve had from that group of players.
Next season, if they are all fit all of the time, then we’ll be a much stronger team for having them available.
You’ve only got to see the impact Kemar had at Hampden in the recent cup game against Aberdeen. We need these guys fit and available.
Helander, Roofe, Hagi, Lawrence, Yilmaz and Rabbi Matondo won’t be involved against St Johnstone on Saturday but are eating up a massive chunk of payroll.
Beale has still to talk Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Helander, Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack, Allan McGregor and Steve Davis into signing new deals with all seven out of contract in May.
Malmo are believed to be considering offering Helander a pay-as-you-play deal.
The UNLUCKY manager with all those players out.