Derek McInnes gets instant response from Dan Neil after unexpected Rangers role handed

Derek McInnes got another look at Dan Neil in Rangers' pre-season friendly against Kaizer Chiefs.

The Bears took on the Glamour Boys in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Sunday as McInnes looks to get an idea of his squad ahead of the season starting.

The game was played at the Marbella Football Centre in Malaga, Spain, where the players got a sweat on in intense conditions.

McInnes named two very similar sides in both the first and second half, making a couple of changes at the break before further substitutions later on in the match.

The match followed the wins over Dunfermline and Raith Rovers last week, but this time against a slightly different opponent.

Rangers drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs, and after making Neil his captain, McInnes may have learned a couple of answers.

Derek McInnes gets instant Dan Neil captain verdict vs Kaizer Chiefs

Gers fell behind to the South African side, but Findlay Curtis later came off the bench to score the equaliser in the 89th minute after late pressure from Nedim Bajrami.

Neil partnered with Tochi Chukwuani in the middle of the park, while Mohamed Diomande played narrow off to the right, and Oliver Antman started on the opposite side.

Interestingly, as reported by Four Lads Had A Dream, Neil did captain the side to the draw.

It's been said that McInnes wants leaders on his side, and that's what he and the club saw in Neil, who captained Sunderland to the Premier League just over a year ago.

The 24-year-old is clearly high up in McInnes' estimations, though how well he fared will be determined by the Gers boss and what he saw.

The optics do suggest that Neil has a good chance of being given the honour of being named the next captain of Rangers, though he has big boots to fill after James Tavernier's exit.

What is being said about Neil's performance?

It is unlikely that Rangers fans will be able to see highlights of the game, though nothing has been confirmed or denied yet.

However, suggestions on social media are that Neil was a standout in the match, particularly in the first 45.

It bodes well for the midfielder's chance of playing a prominent role for the Gers, especially with so many midfield bodies being on the books, and other targets being eyed by the club.

Neil is clearly someone who can handle the pressure of leading a big club, and that may be in McInnes' thinking ahead of his final captaincy decision.