PEDRO CAIXINHA has urged his Rangers squad to dream of World Cup glory as they attempt to follow Bruno Alves’ international exploits in the coming months.

The Portuguese stopper became the first signing of the summer at Ibrox last month as he agreed a switch from Serie A side Cagliari.

But he has yet to meet his Light Blues team-mates after jetting out of Glasgow to join up with Fernando Santos’ squad for the Confederations Cup.

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Alves helped Portugal keep clean sheets in their Group A wins over Russia and New Zealand as the Euro 2016 winners have progressed to the last four of the competition.

Now he is preparing for a semi-final clash with Chile this evening as A Selecção look to set up a meeting with Germany or Mexico in St Petersburg on Sunday.

Alves will miss Rangers’ first competitive action of the season when they face Progres Niederkorn in the Europa League tomorrow night.

But boss Caixinha is pleased to see the 35-year-old still shining on the international stage ahead of his first campaign at Ibrox.

“Rangers, as big a club as we are, need to have players in the Scottish national team, for example,” he told RangersTV.

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“We need players in different national teams and we need players playing in huge competitions with their national teams.

“I am very glad that Bruno is doing it. I am very glad that Portugal are in the semi-finals.

“And I would be even happier if he returns with one more trophy for himself and for Portugal, and also for Rangers because now he is a Rangers player.

“This is going to be an important season also because it is a season that proceeds the World Cup and I would like to have at least two or three players playing in the World Cup.

“That is also an individual goal that our players need to have in their minds in order to pursue it and try to be there.

“It is a unique moment for the players and they need to still think about it and fight for it.”