Andy Little: Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha should build his side around Barrie McKay next season

In a campaign of frustrations and disappointments, the goals that beat Partick Thistle were all too rare highlights for players that were expected to deliver far more in Light Blue.

Both moves showed the Ibrox duo at their best as Pedro Caixinha’s side left it late to avoid a third successive derby defeat and secure their Europa League return.

Read more: Mark Hateley insists this is the most important transfer window in Rangers' history

McKay controlled a long pass from Wes Foderingham, beat two Jags defenders and slotted the ball into the net to pull Rangers level before Garner rose highest in the area to power home a header that sparked scenes of joy amongst the Light Blue legions.

Only time will tell what the future holds at Ibrox. It could still be bright for one of Rangers’ rising stars.

“I was delighted for the two scorers as much as anyone because I know both of them well,” former Gers striker Little told SportTimes.

“They are both great lads and have had their fair share of frustrations this season and recently in terms of not getting the goals that they would have liked.

“Given Barrie’s incredible performances last season, and rightly getting involved in the Scotland squad, it has probably been a big learning curve for him this season because it hasn’t quite gone his way.

Read more: Mark Hateley insists this is the most important transfer window in Rangers' history

“He will learn from being on the bench and hopefully that gives him the hunger and desire to get back into the team next season and do what we all know he is capable of.

“Looking at the squad, I would love to see it being built around the players that know all about it and that is Lee Wallace, Barrie, Danny Wilson, Kenny Miller.

“Those are the kind of players I would like to see being built around and Barrie, given his age, is probably the number one.

“He is at a very high level when he is playing as well as we know he can and is arguably Rangers’ biggest asset. I would hope that Pedro got a glimpse of that on Sunday.”

Caixinha is continuing to assess his squad and consider his options as he prepares for his first full season in charge next time out.

After successive Old Firm defeats, Rangers made the trip to Firhill with a point to prove and in need of a performance as much as a result.

And Little was pleased to see Garner emerging as the Light Blue hero as he met Kenny Miller’s cross and headed home with just seconds to spare.

He said: “I know having seen him at Preston that he is capable of scoring 25 goals-a-season but I think the fans will see the biggest part of his game isn’t necessarily goals, it is what else he does for the team.

“He plays a big role in creating chances for other players and on Sunday there were three or four occasions, through his flick-ons and his interlinking play, that he set up chances for other players.

“When you are a £1.8million signing coming to Rangers, a club that is expected to win every week, you are expected to score every week.

“That brings a lot of pressure but a big part of Joe’s game is what else he brings. I know he is capable of goals though.”

Having seen the dark clouds gather over the last fortnight, victory over the Jags was a much-needed silver lining for boss Caixinha.

There are now just three games – against Hearts, Aberdeen and St Johnstone – remaining before Rangers can consign a season to forget to the history books.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha: Victory over Partick Thistle was crucial for Rangers' confidence levels

But Little believes the Thistle clash will stand Caixinha and his side in good stead as they look to mount a far stronger challenge in the Premiership next term.

He said: “There has been plenty of frustration lately and plenty of negatives but I think there are positives to take from Sunday, mainly the three points.

“If Pedro and the players can find the way of winning those kind of games more often than not next season then that will be important.

“These are the kind of games that keep you in the hunt and challenging for a title and regardless of the performance you need to go and pick up three points. That is what they did.

“He was able to change the formation and there were young players in the squad. It wasn’t a freebie but it was a chance to try things out to make sure he gets it right for next season.”

If Rangers are to overhaul Aberdeen and move closer to Celtic, there is plenty of work to be done on and off the park during the summer.

Caixinha has drawn up a list of targets as he looks to transform his Ibrox ranks and turn them from also-rans into title hopefuls.

The Portuguese will be backed by the Ibrox board. His big calls will have to be the right ones.

Little said: “I think the players themselves would admit that they have come up short this season.

“The manager has come in at a good time and he has been fortunate that he has been able to get a good look at the squad and he can make his mind up over who is involved in his plans.

“There has been talk that there will be changes and it will certainly be interesting. Hopefully the manager is given money to bring in the players he wants.

“But as a player you have sympathy, I was released myself and it is not nice. But if the manager feels that changes have to be made then that is his call.”