Exclusive:Rangers new boy given 'hungry' comparison to former Ibrox hero as ex-coach reveals secret to dethroning Celtic

McInnes, 55, came within three minutes of winning the title as head coach of Hearts last season, only to be denied by a memorable title win by late goals from Celtic’s Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand on the final day of the season. However, having made the move to Ibrox in the summer, he’s been backed to go one better this year by former Rangers coach Gary McAllister.

The club’s assistant manager the last time Rangers won the title under Steven Gerrard in 2021, McAllister believes the appointment of McInnes can change the direction of travel in Glasgow, and believes two of his new signings will prove to be the difference when the season gets underway later this week.

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“The Old Firm games are always key,” McAllister exclusively toldThe Scotsman on behalf of Lottoland. “Those games are big, that goes without saying. Derek knows what they mean and how those games play out. Some of the managers who have been there over the last two or three years maybe hadn’t experienced that and didn’t really know what the game entailed. You know, it might take you a couple to get a feeling for it. But Derek will know exactly what that game means at Ibrox and Celtic Park. That fixture is key.”

The former Rangers coach admits he has added confidence that Rangers can win crucial head-to-head games against Celtic in the upcoming campaign and boost their hopes of title success, thanks to their impressive work in the summer transfer window. The club have added a total of seven new faces, with Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin joining the manager in making the move from Hearts.

“Adding players who have played in that league and know what it means to play for Rangers helps, said McAllister. “There have maybe been too many players coming in who didn’t necessarily know the league or what it meant. They’ve now got another year’s experience as well. Shankland will go there wanting to prove that he should have been there earlier. He’ll have the bit between his teeth, and I think he can come up with the goals. They need to get somebody up there scoring 20-plus if they’re to challenge Celtic.

“He proved it at Ayr United, he proved it at Dundee United and he proved it at Hearts. It’s been a natural progression, jumping up, and this move to, I think, his club as well. He’s a Rangers fan. So, I think he’ll score goals domestically, that’s for sure. Not only his goalscoring, he’s a clever footballer. I think he’ll link the team really well. I think he’s somebody who can come and play, enjoy better possession and link the play. He can assist and make goals as well.

“Cammy Devlin in the middle of the park is one I really like. We had Ryan Jack at the time when I was there. He had played at Aberdeen and played a lot of his football in Scotland. I think the pair of them are the same. Different profiles, totally, but the same determination and the same hunger to win. They play with their hearts on their sleeves. So, I think the two from Hearts are really big additions.”