RANGERS will continue to run the rule over former Barcelona and Man City kid Gai Assulin as manager Mark Warburton explores all avenues to bolster his Ibrox ranks.
Assulin started his career at the Nou Camp and also had a spell with City but has never hit the heights expected after being highly tipped for a bright future in the game.
The playmaker has collected 22 caps for the Israel Under-21 side and now has a chance to catch the eye and attempt to kick-start his career at Ibrox.
Warburton spent the international break on the Pro-Licence course at St George’s Park and has spent the last couple of days putting his squad through their paces ahead of the Championship clash with Queen of the South tomorrow.
Warburton said: “We’ll always have trialists in. Whenever it happens, it is about us looking at him and him looking at us. It is early days.
“You have to be of good calibre to come here, that’s not being arrogant. We want to make sure we have players who add value to the squad. He has a good CV and we’ll see how it goes.
“It’s about using contacts and creating an environment here. Everything has to be right for the players to prosper.
"I've not seen him because I've been on the course. I'm only seen him for one day and I have seen a talented player, but you have got to look at a player over the course of a few days to see how they do and then take it further.
“You have got to do your homework and due diligence and investigate is he right for us and are we right for him.
“Then you have talks and we ask questions and we want him to ask us questions as well. It's got to be right for all parties."
While Warburton was south of the border working on his latest coaching qualifications, he gave his Ibrox squad some time off during the domestic shutdown for the latest round of international fixtures.
Three Gers players – Gedion Zelalem, Fraser Aird and Nathan Oduwa - didn’t get the benefit of a break, however, after representing the United States, Canada and England respectively at various levels in recent days.
And Warburton will have to manage their return to action as his attentions turn to the visit of the Doonhamers this weekend.
He said: "It's tough for the guys on the international breaks, Gedion, Fraser Aird and Nathan Oduwa.
“They are fit and well, but when you go away for ten days and training and playing two or three games and travelling Trans-Atlantic - Fraser arrived back at 7.30 [on Thursday morning].
“It's tough on young bodies. The international break is tough.
“People say ‘why did you change games?’ But you have to look after these guys”
Meanwhile, the SPFL have announced that Rangers’ fixtures against Falkirk and Hibernian in December have been switched for live television coverage.
The Light Blues’ trip to the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday, December 19 has been brought forward to a 12.30pm kick-off and will be screened on BT Sport.
And the key clash with Hibernian at Ibrox that was originally scheduled for Boxing Day has been put back until Monday, December 28.
The game will have a 3pm kick-off and will also be shown live on BT Sport as the two Championship promotion rivals go head-to-head for the fourth time this term.
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