BRUNO ALVES has returned to training with Rangers as Graeme Murty revealed the Ibrox club's injury list is shortening at last.

The Portuguese defender has been out of action since tearing his calf muscle at Celtic Park in the 0-0 draw on December 30.

And with Kenny Miller back to almost full fitness, along with some other players, it might not be too long before Murty has a near full squad to choose from.

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The Rangers manager said: “We are looking good. Declan John is still being checked by our medical staff, while Sean Goss had a Neuropraxic injury, so he damaged a nerve in his face.

“He got a boot to the face, but has come back okay. Bruno Alves joined in training today (Thursday), and Kenny Miller is obviously doing full days training.

“Ross McCrorie is progressing on after an injection, so we are hopeful he will start running soon. Lee Wallace is also progressing on, so we are looking to have more people back giving me a headache in terms of squad selection and people who are ready to go and play.

“We just need to make sure we pick the right team, as people are definitely training well and bringing good energy to the training, which is really important in my eyes.”

Murty, speaking to the Rangers website, revealed his delight in the club’s Development Squad who are just about to finish a two-week training camp in Spain.

The young players defeated La Liga opposition in the shape of Villarreal and Valencia, during their time away.

Murty said: "We will take a little bit of stick as we have done so well in the Games Programme, and played some really big teams but then don’t beat St Johnstone in the Youth Cup.

“We understand that, and we understand that on any day, things might not work and might not happen for us.

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"But, if we see the growth in our young players, and the way they are being tested, and the way they haven’t been able to dominate the ball as they would in Scotland and the way they have had to find a way to cope with different structures and different shapes, it’s been great for their development.

“It is an ongoing process, and I think it is a really important step they are taking and also the opportunity to go to Spain for a couple of weeks has allowed "Glenn Middleton to go out there and see what we are about, and allowed other people to come to the fore and actually cope with being a professional athlete.

“They are going to have to be able to travel to Europe to play for this football club as we will be in Europe. You have to be able to go to Europe midweek, go big distances, and then come back and play here on a Saturday.

“That is what this is built for. This is built to prepare them. They won’t be ready yet, we know that, but this is to give them an inkling of what life might be like if they are fortunate and hungry enough to go and crack-on from here.”