Steven Gerrard has asked Rangers fans to bide their time as they await a first glimpse of new signing Filip Helander in action.
The £3million Sweden international was pictured training with his new team mates today but is not eligible for Thursday’s Europa League qualifying clash with St Joseph’s.
Gerrard says the 6ft 4in defender - along with Scott Arfield who missed a large chunk of pre-season on international duty - is not yet ready to be thrust into action in any case.
Arfield is three weeks behind his team mates in terms of fitness but Jon Flanagan isscheduled to return from injury before the end of the month.
"Jon Flanagan is progressing really well; he is probably ahead of schedule," Gerrard told the club's website. "I think the plan if he continues to progress is that he will be back in full training in just over a week.
“So we will try and get some game time to Jon in a couple of weeks and hopefully he will be ready for the start of the season from a domestic point of view.
"Scott Arfield is only probably on day five or six of pre-season, so he is one we will integrate a little bit slower because we want to be careful with Scott, we want him to be available for hopefully what is going to be a 60 games season.
“It’s important the fans understand that Scott is three weeks behind the team.
“Filip Helander is only on day two or three of pre-season so I will be very careful how I integrate him as well.
“I want to put both of those players back into action when they are ready to perform.”
Rangers take on St Jo's in the second leg of the Europa League qualifying first round at Ibrox on Thursday.
The Light Blues carry a 4-0 lead into the tie and are coming off the same scoreline in Sunday's friendly win over Marseille.
Gerrard added: “It just feels different, friendlies are friendlies and we always try and approach them the best way we can, to prepare and they are like rehersals for the important games.
“But when you see the Europa League sign on the arm of your shirt and the setup is for real you see in the players’ eyes it is a different feeling.
“It is a real game and you are playing for something, in a friendly, with all due respect you don’t really get anything out of it in terms of points and prizes.
“I think the players are chomping at the bit to get in front of the crowd."
