Derek McInnes Supports Lawrence Shankland as Rangers Captain
Derek McInnes insists Lawrence Shankland will be a driving force for Rangers this season – whether he is in the starting XI or not.
The Rangers manager, who made Shankland his captain at Hearts and handed him the same responsibility at Ibrox in the summer, has watched his new skipper endure a slow start in Govan. On Sunday, the Scotland striker was left on the bench for the 5-1 League Cup win over St Mirren, with Nico Raskin wearing the armband instead.
That decision stirred the noise around Shankland’s early Rangers spell. McInnes is having none of it.
McInnes backs his captain
"I said that when I spoke to Lawrence. Being captain does not guarantee anything, and he accepted that," McInnes explained ahead of Thursday night’s UEFA Conference League play-off first leg against Jablonec at Ibrox.
"He is not going to stamp his feet about it. Somebody has to be club captain and, having worked with Lawrence before, he is a brilliant captain and a brilliant boy.
"He has a lot to offer. People can maybe look too much into it.
"You want your captain to have a big influence on and off the pitch, and I believe Lawrence will have that.
"For me, it is a non-question, although I understand why people might see more in it."
Shankland has just one goal in Rangers colours so far – a penalty against Jagiellonia in the Europa League qualifier – and came off the bench for only the second time this season in the second half against St Mirren without adding to that tally.
The numbers are modest. McInnes’ belief is not.
"When you have a player like Lawrence, who knows his way around the penalty box and how to score goals, I do not worry too much about it," he said.
"He is too good not to score regularly. He has consistently shown that over a period of time in the Premiership, with 20-odd goals a season at Hearts.
"Sometimes people can overemphasise these things.
"For me, it is a case of letting him play his natural game.
"The best strikers have that instinctive side to their game, where everything looks natural and seamless. I have no doubt he will do well here."
The message is clear: the armband is not a shield from competition, but neither is a place on the bench a sign of fading trust.
Nedeljkovic arrives to bolster the right flank
While the debate swirls around the captain, Rangers’ recruitment drive under McInnes continues at full tilt.
Earlier in the day, the club confirmed the signing of Kosta Nedeljkovic from Aston Villa on a season-long loan, with an obligation to buy. The 20-year-old Serbia international becomes McInnes’ 11th summer addition and steps straight into a battle for the right-back slot with Dujon Sterling and Ross McCrorie.
"It was a position we identified at the start of pre-season. We looked at various options," McInnes said. "The club had been reliant on Dujon, who has had his history of injuries, so we wanted to bring in a different type of full-back.
"I've got a high opinion of Dujon, but with Kosta you get a player similar to Vanja in a full-back position: real enthusiasm, athleticism and the ability to get up and down the pitch.
"He shows good quality and a real eagerness to play the role.
"As a young player, there will still be areas to improve, but we're looking forward to helping him develop."
A captain under scrutiny, a new full-back eager to sprint into the spotlight, and a European tie looming at Ibrox. McInnes has made his stance plain: the shirt is earned, not gifted – and Shankland now has the stage to prove why the armband still sits on his arm.
