ONLY time will tell just how significant a step Rangers took on Sunday.

An emphatic 3-0 win against Aberdeen flattered the Glasgow club. There isn’t much question about that, despite Joe Dodoo’s proclamations during the week.

Let’s just say his claim that it was no surprise Pedro Caixinha’s team triumphed over the Dandy Dons as they are the better side was a lot wider of the mark than his strike that trundled by Joe Lewis to put the result beyond doubt.

It is beyond question that the Portuguese’s arrival has brought a bounce to Rangers. But he is only one man, and, with all due respect to Jonatan Johansson, it will take more than his arrival to convince me the Glasgow club are now on the straight and narrow and speeding their way to a prosperous summer and beyond.

In the short term, Caixinha has steadied the Rangers ship and has put them firmly back in the mix for a European place. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

While on the face of it progress is being made, behind the scenes great work must still be done to give Rangers the sustainability to build for the future.

Yesterday afternoon, Celtic and Rangers met in the Development League at Cappielow. Celtic ran out 4-0 winners in a comprehensive rout. It should also be noted this result was achieved by a Hoops team made up entirely of colts, while Rangers fielded Michael O’Halloran.

I was going to say at least he turned up. But given the scoreline, perhaps not...

The fact Light Blue U20s currently sit seventh in the table, 20 points behind leaders Ross County, tells a story of an academy that simply isn’t producing.

Following Mark Warburton’s exit back in February, Rangers launched a two-pronged attack for both a head coach and a director of football. After offering the latter post to Ross Wilson only to be rejected, the trail has run stone cold in trying to find another potential candidate.

The upturn in results for the first-team should not mask the need to carry through with the plan. There doesn’t seem a stream of young kids coming through who could make the grade.

David Bates has been given a chance but he’s only just arrived in from Raith Rovers, and even then has looked nervous at times.

The only positive this week is that at least the arrival of Johansson will open up Caixinha’s knowledge of the Scottish game, particularly due to the Finn’s work as u20s boss at Motherwell.

It was no secret that under Warburton and Frank McParland, scouring the depths of the Enlgish leagues was the preferred tactic rather than fishing in their own pond. With the exception of O’Halloran and at a push Lee Hodson, the Scottish market was untapped to the previous regime.

Over the city, you just have to look at Stuart Armstrong, Kieran Tierney, Craig Gordon, Leigh Griffiths, James Forrest, Scott Brown, Liam Henderson, Callum McGregor. The Scottish spine running through the team is clear to see. A mixture of academy kids mixed with Scottish or Scottish-based players who know the game up here. It’s not rocket science.

There are plenty of talented players in Scotland who quite easily could have gone to Rangers. Graeme Shinnie, Kenny McLean, Louis Moult to name but three. Are any of them worse than what was bought in their place by Warburton?

Under Caixinha and Johansson, Rangers at last have a management team prepared to look on their own doorstep for talent. However, it’s up to the club’s board to deliver the director of football they promised and quite clearly need.