{"id":1616,"date":"2026-08-19T15:08:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=1616"},"modified":"2026-08-19T15:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:08:50","slug":"rangers-derek-mcinnes-confident-captain-lawrence-shankland-will-have-big-influence-at-ibrox-club-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=1616","title":{"rendered":"Rangers: Derek McInnes confident captain Lawrence Shankland will have &#8216;big influence&#8217; at Ibrox club | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"ui-article-body\" data-testid=\"article-body\" data-highlight-intro=\"true\">\n<p>Derek McInnes described Lawrence Shankland as a &#8220;brilliant&#8221; captain who will have a &#8220;big influence&#8221; at Rangers whether or not he starts games.<\/p>\n<p>Shankland was skipper under McInnes at Hearts and followed his manager to Ibrox in the summer where he took up the same role.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Scotland striker has not hit the ground running in Govan and was on the bench for the 5-1 home League Cup win over St Mirren on Sunday, with midfielder Nico Raskin taking the armband.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn\" data-account-id=\"6057984924001\" data-amp-iframe-embed=\"\" data-asset-id=\"f96fafd3-e8b4-4e2f-8a51-b977ca50a6a4\" data-asset-path=\"\" data-asset-version=\"\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-auth-config=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/api.condatis.sky\\\/auth\\\/video\\\/token&quot;,&quot;tokenRequired&quot;:true,&quot;fetchMethod&quot;:&quot;url&quot;,&quot;fetchOptions&quot;:{&quot;encoded&quot;:true},&quot;headers&quot;:{&quot;X-SkyGDP-Proposition&quot;:&quot;sportweb&quot;,&quot;X-SkyGDP-Territory&quot;:&quot;GB&quot;,&quot;Authorization&quot;:&quot;OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA=&quot;}}\" data-caption=\"Rangers manager Derek McInnes discusses the signing of Kosta Nedeljkovic from Aston Villa, Nicolas Raskin's future, plus the Ibrox club's search for wingers and a striker\" data-clip-type=\"\" data-component-name=\"sdc-site-video\" data-component-name-alias=\"ui-sitewide-video\" data-competition=\"\" data-copy-url-text=\"URL copied to clipboard\" data-fn=\"sdc-site-video\" data-id=\"id_f96fafd3-e8b4-4e2f-8a51-b977ca50a6a4\" data-is-live-stream=\"false\" data-lite=\"true\" data-options=\"\" data-originator-id=\"-1\" data-originator-handle=\"brightcove-sport-gb\" data-package-name=\"\" data-provider=\"brightcove\" data-player-id=\"DESF5xFjJ\" data-playsinline=\"\" data-sensitive=\"\" data-sdc-id=\"7325738\" data-sdc-video-id=\"f96fafd3-e8b4-4e2f-8a51-b977ca50a6a4\" data-sport-category=\"\" data-state=\"loading\" data-token-state=\"none\" data-video-ad-unit=\"videoplayer\" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids=\"\" data-video-id=\"ref:f96fafd3-e8b4-4e2f-8a51-b977ca50a6a4\" data-video-type=\"\" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible=\"\" data-defer-source=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-closed-captions-position=\"\" data-show-closed-captions=\"true\" data-show-pip=\"\" data-show-live-stream-scrubber=\"\" data-autoload=\"\" data-testid=\"sitewide-video\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__inner\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__content\" data-role=\"bridge-controller\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ ());\">\n<p class=\"sdc-site-video__accessibility-message\" data-role=\"accessibility-message\">Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n<p>          <span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-role=\"poster\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/768x432\/skysports-mcinnes-rangers_7325744.jpg?20260819151604\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/768x432\/skysports-mcinnes-rangers_7325744.jpg?20260819151604 600w,https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/1600x900\/skysports-mcinnes-rangers_7325744.jpg?20260819151604\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster-img excluded-image\" data-testid=\"sitewide-video-poster\"\/><br \/>\n          <span class=\"sdc-site-video__loader\" data-testid=\"sitewide-video-loader\"\/><\/p>\n<p>          <\/span><\/p>\n<p>          <video id=\"id_f96fafd3-e8b4-4e2f-8a51-b977ca50a6a4\" data-embed=\"default\" data-application-id=\"\" class=\"video-js sdc-site-video__tag\" controls=\"\" playsinline=\"\" data-testid=\"sitewide-video-video\"\/>\n        <\/div><figcaption class=\"sdc-site-video__caption ui-media-caption\">\n<p>          <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-role=\"caption-text\" data-testid=\"sitewide-video-caption\">Rangers manager Derek McInnes discusses the signing of Kosta Nedeljkovic from Aston Villa, Nicolas Raskin&#8217;s future, plus the Ibrox club&#8217;s search for wingers and a striker<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off tie against Czech side Jablonec at Ibrox on Thursday, McInnes said: &#8220;I said that when I spoke to Lawrence. Being captain does not guarantee anything, and he accepted that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;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.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He has a lot to offer. People can maybe look too much into it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You want your captain to have a big influence on and off the pitch, and I believe Lawrence will have that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For me, it is a non-question, although I understand why people might see more in it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-article-image\" data-testid=\"article-image\">\n<figure class=\"sdc-article-image__figure\">\n<div class=\"sdc-article-image__wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sdc-article-image__item\" loading=\"lazy\" intrinsicsize=\"768x432\" src=\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/768x432\/skysports-rangers-lawrence_7317708.jpg?20260809174031\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/384x216\/skysports-rangers-lawrence_7317708.jpg?20260809174031 380w, https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/768x432\/skysports-rangers-lawrence_7317708.jpg?20260809174031 760w, https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/1600x900\/skysports-rangers-lawrence_7317708.jpg?20260809174031 1024w, https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/2048x1152\/skysports-rangers-lawrence_7317708.jpg?20260809174031 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw\" alt=\"It has been a tough start for Shankland and Rangers this season\" data-testid=\"article-image-image\"\/>\n    <\/div><figcaption class=\"ui-media-caption\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption\">\n        <span class=\"u-hide-visually\">Image:<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption-text\">It has been a tough start for Shankland and Rangers this season<br \/>\n        <\/span><br \/>\n      <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Shankland came off the bench for the second time this season in the second half against Saints but could not add to his solitary Gers goal to date, a penalty against Polish side Jagiellonia in the Europa League qualifier.<\/p>\n<p>However, McInnes is relaxed about the situation and said: &#8220;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.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;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.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sometimes people can overemphasise these things.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For me, it is a case of letting him play his natural game.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the day, Rangers confirmed that Kosta Nedeljkovic had signed from Aston Villa on a season-long loan deal with the Gers having an obligation to buy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-article-image\" data-testid=\"article-image\">\n<figure class=\"sdc-article-image__figure\">\n<div class=\"sdc-article-image__wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sdc-article-image__item\" loading=\"lazy\" intrinsicsize=\"768x432\" src=\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/768x432\/skysports-kosta-nedeljkovic_7325642.jpg?20260819131415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/384x216\/skysports-kosta-nedeljkovic_7325642.jpg?20260819131415 380w, https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/768x432\/skysports-kosta-nedeljkovic_7325642.jpg?20260819131415 760w, https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/1600x900\/skysports-kosta-nedeljkovic_7325642.jpg?20260819131415 1024w, https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/2048x1152\/skysports-kosta-nedeljkovic_7325642.jpg?20260819131415 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw\" alt=\"Kosta Nedeljkovic has joined Rangers from Aston Villa\" data-testid=\"article-image-image\"\/>\n    <\/div><figcaption class=\"ui-media-caption\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption\">\n        <span class=\"u-hide-visually\">Image:<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-testid=\"article-image-caption-text\">Kosta Nedeljkovic has joined Rangers from Aston Villa<br \/>\n        <\/span><br \/>\n      <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The 20-year-old Serbia international, McInnes&#8217; 11th summer signing, will contend with Dujon Sterling and Ross McCrorie for the right-back position.<\/p>\n<p>McInnes said: &#8220;It was a position we identified at the start of pre-season. We looked at various options. 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.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got a high opinion of Dujon, but with Kosta you get a player similar to (midfielder) Vanja (Dragojevic) in a full-back position: real enthusiasm, athleticism and the ability to get up and down the pitch.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He shows good quality and a real eagerness to play the role.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As a young player, there will still be areas to improve, but we&#8217;re looking forward to helping him develop.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/football\/news\/11788\/13574741\/rangers-derek-mcinnes-confident-captain-lawrence-shankland-will-have-big-influence-at-ibrox-club\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Derek McInnes described Lawrence Shankland as a &#8220;brilliant&#8221; captain who will have a &#8220;big influence&#8221;&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}