ALEX MCLEISH reckons Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha will be expected to deliver second place in the Premiership and add some silverware to the Ibrox trophy cabinet this season.

The Portuguese has endured a mixed start to the campaign as the Gers crashed out of the Europa League before the wins over Motherwell and Dunfermline last week.

But there was disappointment for the Light Blues on Saturday as Hibernian took all three points back to Easter Road after a controversial Ibrox clash.

Rangers host Hearts this weekend aiming to get back to winning ways and kick-start their campaign ahead of a crucial run of league and cup fixtures.

And former Gers boss McLeish knows all eyes will be on Caixinha in the coming weeks as he looks to prove his side can challenge for major honours this term.

He told SportTimes: “I would agree with that [it is difficult to build a team in one season and win the league]. And I think most football people would say that as well.

“It is a building season for Pedro and the one thing that he has to try and do is improve the head-to-heads with Celtic and try and win a few of them.

“If they are not going to be first, they definitely need to be second. But that is not going to be easy with the skills of Derek McInnes and the team that he has built.

“He has had to change it a bit this season but the players that he has brought in have been very shrewd acquisitions.

“If Rangers can get some silverware this season, then that is what will be expected of them. I know it is a rebuild but it is still expected.

“It doesn’t matter what team you put out, if a player has that Rangers badge on their jersey then the fans expect them to be successful.

“It is not a matter of there is no reason why they shouldn’t do it, it is an expectancy that they should do it.

“That is how Rangers work. They expect to be in these finals and silverware is of prime importance.”