Kevin Thomson knows Michael Beale will ultimately be judged on his Rangers recruitment - but reckons his January additions show he has a good eye.
The Light Blues gaffer is set for a huge summer overhaul as he bids to dethrone Celtic and Ange Postecoglou next season. The Parkhead side have already wrapped up the League Cup and the Scottish Premiership title for the second successive season and are on course for a domestic Treble with Scottish Championship side Inverness standing between them and a clean sweep this season.
On the pitch, Beale finally got the better of Postecoglou at the fifth attempt last weekend at Ibrox with a comfortable three goal win. Todd Cantwell, John Souttar and Fashion Sakala were all on target for the home side. The former Norwich City man has been creating headlines alongside fellow winter signing Nicolas Raskin and Thomson hopes to see more players at that standard arrive through the doors at Ibrox this summer.
READ MORE: Michael Beale details Tom Lawrence Rangers plan and gives expected timeline return
He knows Beale has a great network south of the border with a host of names like Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Auston Trusty, Morgan Whittaker and Kieran Dowell - who all ply their trade in England - linked with summer moves to Ibrox.
Postecoglou and Celtic have been widely praised for their recruitment over the past couple of seasons and Thomson knows it is the same area Beale will face judgement.
He said: “Mick is going to be judged on his recruitment, really. Celtic have got an opportunity next month to win another Treble.
“If they go on to do that - and the odds are they will - then it will just bring more unwanted scrutiny to Rangers’ door. So they’re going to have to get this summer bang on.
“I know Mick has got great network when it comes to English football and identifying Championship players he think will want to come to Ibrox.
“The two he’s already signed in Raskin and Cantwell have shown he’s a good judge when it comes to recruiting. Celtic will respond to that by saying, ‘Well they won nothing’.
“But the harsh reality is that they came in when Rangers were already behind so I think it’s only next year with a clean slate that these boys can be judged. And that goes for Mick too.
“I just think that when you move into the summer off the back of a good result against your arch rivals, it brings a wee bit of a feel-good factor back to the place.
“The reality is they’ve not really had that this past year.”
READ NEXT:
- Rangers boss Michael Beale sends Malik Tillman message after PFA Young Player of Year award
- PFA Scotland awards in full as Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi lands top prize with Jota also a winner
- Billy Gilmour in Brighton three word rally cry after Arsenal triumph with Europe well in sight
- Michael Beale admits Ryan Jack Rangers new deal is just a 'matter of announcing it'
- The Rangers training ground impact for John Souttar Celtic header detailed by Ibrox star
