The signs - or indeed signings - for Rangers are promising.

However, we have seen this movie before.

Around 12 months ago, supporters of the Ibrox club were getting themselves worked into a frenzy as the tactics and recruitment wizard Mark Warburton got to work conjuring up some transfer window surprise packages.

As it panned out, not too many rabbits were hauled out of that magic hat.

Joey Barton of course arrived to a great fanfare in Scotland, holding a press conference that made the Gettysburg Address appear as if it were being read from a tweet.

Great proclamations were made from everything to Scottish football, Scott Brown, Joey Barton the reformed bad boy to his upbringing. We all know how that ended.

We then had the next big thing, Niko Kranjcar, whose first term at Rangers was sandwiched between a lack of fitness and a horrendous injury which has only seen him return to training in the last few weeks.

Both men led the way in the optimism stakes at Ibrox to try and provide some hope for a support desperate for some sort of success in the top league.

A year on, here we are again. With Ryan Jack, Bruno Alves and soon to be Carlos Pena, marquee signings and big names are coming along like buses. Again, the future is beginning to look brighter for the Light Blues.

It’s hard to deny that all three men named above will make Rangers a better team. Pedro Caixinha, unlike his predecessor has managed to identify key areas needing strengthened and acknowledged a lack of spirit, leadership and a winning mentality has to be rectified.

With Rangers back in two days’ time for pre-season, getting this group knocked into shape is of the highest importance of the club are going to have a season deemed a success. What the definition of that is open to interpretation.

There is room for caution, though. As last summer demonstrated, one swallow does not a summer make. A few good signings don’t make a season either, for that you need much more than talent. You need tactics, spirit and, perhaps most importantly, luck.

While Barton’s signing was a major gamble that unsurprisingly backfired, Kranjcar becoming crocked so early on was an equally fatal blow for Warburton and his future. Given his experience and skill, keeping the Croatian fit throughout the season could have been difference from finishing second or third.

Now back with hopefully a pre-season under his belt, the man Caixinha described as his quarter-back will be in a better position to show what he’s all about. The lack of his class in midfield was clear to see last year, and having him back will almost be like a new signing in itself.

The early signs are good for Rangers. They will still be some way short of Celtic, of course. But with eyes surely set on second, tentative optimism may just be allowed at this, the earliest of stages.

AND ANOTHER THING

Mention of the week goes to James McFadden, Motherwell legend who has left the club as a player for what is potentially the final time.

Growing up watching him as a kid (he’s only four years older than me right enough), he was the most naturally-gifted Scottish player of his generation. And to every young Motherwell fan an icon. Even to some of an older vintage.

There was something poetic about him returning to the club after seeking his success in England. Then going away and coming back. And again. There are homing pigeons who haven’t done as many shuttle runs back to base camp.

I was in Inverness last month to witness him score on his final game, a calm header just 10 seconds after coming off the bench. It is a sad day knowing he will never cause a heart to flutter in a claret and amber jersey again.

Knowing that he still wants to prolong his playing career, the kid in me has one message for him: Just not Accies, eh?