Pedro Caixinha will give Bruno Alves time off before he returns to Rangers this summer

The 35-year-old has yet to train with his new Light Blues team-mates after being called up for the Confederations Cup this summer.

Alves helped Portugal to a third place finish in Russia and he will miss the second leg of the Europa League qualifier against Progres Niederkorn this evening.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha focusing on Progres clash and not his Rangers rebuilding job

Rangers begin their Premiership campaign away to Motherwell on Saturday, August 5 and Alves will be given time to recover ahead of the big kick-off.

Caixinha said: “Bruno needs to have a couple of weeks off. I am just analysing that and I need to make that plan. I will pass to him directly after the match as well.

“To keep playing at this level and at this stage, he is a guy that knows his working tool, his body.

“He really prepares himself, even in holidays. He is fitter sometimes than boys that are 20-years-old.

“He is not here and we are just concerned about the game. We will pass him the plan regarding the vacation and when he will return and then you will see what he adds to our game and our squad.

“He fits totally on the characteristics according to the needs we identified between last season and the season we are beginning now.”

Read more: Pedro Caixinha focusing on Progres clash and not his Rangers rebuilding job

The capture of Alves was a statement of intent from Caixinha this summer as he put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal at Ibrox.

The defender has played at the top of the game with the likes of Porto and Zenit St Petersburg in a glittering career for club and country.

His experience and leadership qualities will be crucial for the Gers in the coming months and Caixinha is keen to see a band of players step up to the plate alongside skipper Lee Wallace.

He said: “We are getting a group of captains. I don’t believe that the captain is only the one with the armband.

“The captain needs to have some sort of characteristics definitely. Lee is having it, Kenny is having it, Niko is another one. We need to add two more to that group.

“We have a close group of captains with all respect to the other group of players. I do believe we need to have that group of more experienced, mature players to pass the standards that we want and to be a closer link between the technical staff and the group of players.

“Of course, that is one decision. We have a group and afterwards we will have a decision. But for the moment, for sure, Lee is the captain.”

Wallace has had limited time working with Caixinha since his arrival at Ibrox after a hernia injury ruled him out of action during the closing stages of the campaign.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha focusing on Progres clash and not his Rangers rebuilding job

He will lead the Light Blues out in Luxembourg tonight as Rangers bid to book their place in the second round and set up a tie with AEL Limassol.

And boss Caixinha is pleased to have the left-back fit and raring to go as he continues his Ibrox preparations this summer.

He said: “Lee is that type of person that you recognise immediately. He was very kind when he received us. He is the type of guy you identify when he can give to you.

“Unfortunately he got injured for a period and could only play one and a half matches for us. He did everything to return for the end of the season but it was not possible so we agreed for him to return totally recovered by the end of the season.

“He had a lot of sacrifices and did a lot of work in order to arrive at this level and he will keep helping as a captain and a key player.”