Barry Ferguson has called on Rangers fringe men Oscar Cortes and Danilo to raise their standards in training if they want to stake a claim for regular first-team football.
The interim manager addressed growing questions surrounding the limited game time of the attacking duo following the Ibrox side’s 1-1 draw with Celtic on Sunday – a match in which Danilo made a late cameo and Cortes remained unused.
Colombian winger Cortes, signed from French side RC Lens on loan last year with an obligation to buy this summer, has managed just nine appearances across all competitions this term. Notably, he's featured for only 45 minutes since Ferguson succeeded Philippe Clement on February 24.
Danilo, meanwhile, has slipped behind Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane in the striking pecking order, with fans expressing frustration over the lack of impact from a player once tipped to be a key figure in the squad.
Speaking at his post-match media duties, Ferguson made clear the duo’s exclusion is down to performance levels behind the scenes, not personal preference.
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"They're obviously in the squad. But in terms of picking them, I have a decision – you can only pick 11 players,” Ferguson explained. “I've watched what happens on the training ground. I see the opposition we've come up against and who’ll suit to play against them.
“But everybody's got an opportunity. They just need to work hard to force their way in. I think the two of them are good players but they need to do more. They understand that. It's not just a case of you get in the team for the sake of getting in – you need to be in the team on merit. I think you ask the two of them, I think they would agree they have to do more."
He continued: “You’ve got to remember they’ve had long-term injuries. So it has taken a bit of time for them to get up to speed. It’s probably a totally different training regime than they've had before, because the training is really intense.
"But look, that's why you carry a squad. And maybe before the end of the season they may get an opportunity."
