From the moment  it was first announced, 

Saturday’s friendly game against Marseille was one which captured the imagination and whetted the appetite for Rangers fans.

And the reason for that is two-fold. One, there is a controversial past history between the two teams and, two, this will be a first chance to see some of Pedro Caixinha’s  new summer signings in action.

The game, however, has taken on even more signif-icance because of the start – you might say false start – Rangers have made to the season, in as much as they have played so few games.

Read more: Old foes Marseille bring home to Trevor Steven how far Rangers have slumped

As a player, I knew that we’d have two weeks of hell during our pre-season when everything was centred around getting the team fit for the forthcoming campaign. 

But once you’d got over that, you knew you would have plenty of game time, a pre-season tour of Sweden or the likes, where you would play three or four games, and then back to Glasgow for a glamour friendly against Arsenal or Spurs or Everton, and then another couple of games, maybe friendlies or testimonials elsewhere.

And all of this while the reserves were away doing their own thing around the Highlands. By the big kick-off, you were flying, match-sharp and match-ready. 

But there is a serious poss-ibility that Rangers could find themselves underprepared before they take on Motherwell that opening weekend, even taking into account next weekend’s friendly against Sheffield Wednesday.

Read more: Old foes Marseille bring home to Trevor Steven how far Rangers have slumped

Don’t get me wrong, it is very difficult to come up with a Plan B when all the eggs are in one basket, that being a prolonged run through the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

But that loss to Niederkorn put paid to that. So Rangers and Pedro, just two weeks from the league kicking off in earnest, find themselves in no-man’s land. 

As I say, finding alternative fixtures are very difficult, but I wonder in the logic of closed- door games against the likes of St Johnstone, who are in the same boat as the Gers.

Bounce games might get you moving and help stamina wise, but just how seriously can you take them? 

It’s a false test, usually against players of a similar mindset. For me, you’d be as well having bounce games against the reserves and youth teams.

No, to find any kind of competitive edge you must play in front of the fans, and have them behind you, driving you on, playing for pride. 

Read more: Old foes Marseille bring home to Trevor Steven how far Rangers have slumped

That is something more akin to the test you’ll get a fortnight on Sunday.

The bonus or treat for Rangers fans will be that on Saturday, Pedro will play as near his first-choice starting XI as is possible, because they need game time. 

And it will be the same when they go down to face Sheffield Wednesday. 
If he knows his best XI, then probably more important, is finding the right system and formation. 

Caixinha only has 180 minutes to do that, when ideally he’d have had five or six matches. 

He seems to have the players he wants, but, the lack of goals is
already worrying the supporters – and me.

If Rangers are in for another player, as has been rumoured, it needs to be an attacking option.  For me, given that Rangers need a 20/25 goals per season man, Louis Moult would have been the prefect choice – proven, dangerous and with an excellent record in Scotland. Instead, Rangers have been linked with Steven Naismith.

Does anyone believe that one will happen? Not me. Just look at the facts.
Forget how he’d be received back at Rangers. Some won’t want him near the place given the circumstances of his departure. 

Read more: Old foes Marseille bring home to Trevor Steven how far Rangers have slumped

But I’d take him back. Think of everything he did for Rangers during his time here? He might even take a massive pay drop. Who knows?

But what won’t happen is Norwich City waving cheerio to a player who is only 30 and who cost them £9 million last year. No club will take that kind of hit. 

No, they’d be looking for a sizeable fee. But could Rangers afford anything like that? I don’t think so.

They might get lucky, with one of the strikers they’ve brought in. 
But even this early on, Kenny Miller looks their most potent threat. And I wouldn’t want to pin everything on a 37-year-old, regardless of how good he looked last term, or has started this season.