IAN Durrant believes Pedro Caixinha is right to recruit players from his former clubs for Rangers this summer - because he needs to be able to trust them implicitly to carry out his orders when they are on the field.

The Ibrox side have been linked with Caixinha's 35-year-old countryman Bruno Alves and defenders Rashid Sumaila, Jose Abella and Carlos Izquierdoz, all of whom he worked with at either Al-Gharafa or Santos Laguna.

While Durrant, the club legend and former coach, who is now assistant manager of Dumbarton, understands that approach he has urged him not to ignore the Scottish market should top native talent such as Ryan Jack or Kenny McLean become available.

Read more: Charlie Adam: Rangers can go back to the future this summer with players like Steven NaismithGlasgow Times: Former Dundee United midfielder Andy McLaren and Dumbarton assistant manager Ian Durrant help promote mental health project Back Onside at the Elite Collaboration's Charity Golf Day. Picture: SNS

“The manager has to have trust in his players and if he has that I’m sure he’ll go and get them,” said Durrant. “When you’re in the dugout you’ve got to trust them when they cross the white line. It’s a hard badge to wear but it’s enjoyable when you’re doing well. If there were players in Scotland I’m sure he’d try and identify them too. It’s the manager’s decision and that’s what he’ll be judged on and Rangers fans will hope he gets it right.”

The first contours of how Rangers will look next season are already starting to take shape. Emerson Hyndman has returned to Bournemouth, while Michael O’Halloran, Harry Forrester and Rob Kiernan - forced into 6am sessions at Auchenhowie this week - clearly have work to do if they are to convince Caixinha that they have a future. There will be a reluctance in some quarters of the club’s supporter base about the release of veteran Clint Hill, less so that Philippe Senderos is also being shown the door.

No wonder then that Durrant feels that this coming transfer window could be as important as any in Rangers history. The 50-year-old has only an outside view on events unfolding at Ibrox these days compared to his previous seat in the inner sanctum. But, speaking at Elite Collaboration’s celebrity golf day in aid of their Mental Health project Back Onside, the club legend and former coach said yesterday that this summer recruitment period was crucial to the club’s prospects. Not only is time running out before the club’s first Europa League qualifying tie on June 29, but the process may require shifting a number of players sitting on long-term contracts.

Read more: Charlie Adam: Rangers can go back to the future this summer with players like Steven Naismith

“I don’t know Pedro at all but looking at it from the outside he needs time,” said Durrant. “And if they’re going to put a challenge in, he needs backing to freshen the team up. That’s the key to it, and reading between the lines over the past week he’s identified players and now it’s a matter of going and getting them. He’s intimated there could be a clear-out but whether or not they can do it is different,” he added. “They’ve some on good money and long contracts so it’s not as easy as saying ‘you can go’. Players do have a level of power and they can dictate to the club about whether they move or stay. But the recruitment will be key and this is possibly going to be one of the biggest transfer windows in Rangers’ history.”

There is a clamour in some parts for owner Dave King to show face more publicly but Durrant feels he is an easy target. Days after the 30th anniversary of Rangers doing nine-in-a-row, the midfielder feels it is too early for anyone to start worrying about Celtic reaching double figures. "Having been there, once you get to eight and nine you start talking about it," he said. "We’re all talking about Rangers but everybody else will be trying to put a wee dent into Celtic too.”