'Real Physicality' - Pundit view: Rangers discover 'Real' Clement after manager unhappy with squad

Rangers players will be discovering the “real” Philippe Clement during the preseason as the manager gears up for his first full season in charge, says Derek Ferguson.

The Light Blues have returned to training amid the Belgian’s summer overhaul in the transfer market, with one senior player already dropped to the reserves as he nears transfer exit.

And Ferguson believes Clement is working to make his squad a far more physical proposition based on the signings he has already made, with anybody unable to match up likely to be left behind.

The Ibrox manager was open about his unhappiness with the fitness situation last season [BBC Sport, 31 October] and Ferguson believes his moves this summer are a direct attempt to address that.

He exclusively told Ibrox News: “They’ve all come back for preseason [and] I think they’re going to find out the real Philippe Clement.

“You can already see that with the signings he’s made – Jefte’s come in, left-sided, six foot plus. [Clinton] Nsiala, six foot plus.

“So I think there’s going to be a real physicality about the Rangers side next season.

“If you’re not up to that, and he did speak about fitness as well during the course of last season, he was disappointed with the fitness of the players when he came in.

“It’s so difficult during the season to turn that around. He’s going to have three weeks or so with the players to implement that.

“I’m looking forward to seeing which side or which squad he’s going to assemble.”

Jefte and Clinton Nsiala signings add physicality to Rangers squad

Clement was able to bring about a significant impact for the first few months of his time in charge after replacing Michael Beale, taking over the squad his predecessor revamped a year ago and then failed to get the best out of, before the situation trailed off badly to end the season amid mounting injuries.

So the expectation would be for the current manager to improve matters with the benefit of a full summer transfer window and preseason.

The Ibrox debacle has provided a hugely-unwelcome distraction to start the season, but with injury-prone players such as Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe released and the likes of Jefte and Nsiala brought in the profile could be changing at Ibrox.

In other Rangers news, an eight-figure transfer fee is on the cards as a key man from last season nears an Ibrox exit.

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