Liam Thomas

Fri 30 December 2022 21:10, UK

Michael Beale will be ready and raring to go for the January 2 Old Firm clash against Celtic and is no rookie to the fierce derby, according to journalist Aidan Smith.

Beale remains undefeated since taking the head coaches role at Ibrox but a mixed bag of performances have left fans occasionally puzzled.

Nevertheless, Smith confessed that going into the Old Firm match Beale can profit from the “intense environment” he worked under during Steven Gerrard’s tenure at the club.

“Monday’s fixture may be Beale’s first as a manager in his own right, but he’s no rookie when it comes to Scotland’s fiercest derby,” said Smith as quoted by The Herald.

“And he’s in no doubt his experiences of the intense environment from his time as Steven Gerrard’s assistant will be vitally important.”

Confident.

Beale seems extremely confident heading into the Old Firm clash, something which you want to see from your head coach. It’s certainly a game where Rangers can announce themselves as genuine title contenders again under the leadership of the Englishman.

However, it would be foolish to think any win can plaster over the crack within this Gers squad, investment will still be needed in January and beyond.

But an Old Firm win would be a nice present to enter 2023 with and one Beale could use to convince future talents into joining his project at Ibrox.

A loss isn’t all too damaging either though, although, it would pretty much mean this season’s Scottish Premiership title chances were all but finished.

Whatever the result, there’s a swagger about Beale which is charming and it is giving fans a new sense of belief heading into massive fixtures like the one on January 2.

In other Rangers news, a £5million twist has emerged in Southampton’s bid to sign Ryan Kent.