Jack Simpson looks back at Rangers debut as Steven Gerrard reveals plans for new defender

Jack Simpson made his Rangers debut with a substitute appearance in the 4-1 Premiership win over Dundee United at Ibrox on Sunday. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

It only took Jack Simpson around 20 minutes to discover the intensity of the demands he will have to meet if he hopes to forge a successful career at Rangers.

When he woke up on Monday morning, Simpson’s ears were probably still reverberating from the cacophonous verbal blast directed at him and his fellow defenders by Allan McGregor when Dundee United grabbed a consolation goal at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon.

Mark McNulty’s 86th-minute strike was inconsequential in the grand scheme of things from a Rangers perspective as they racked up a 4-1 victory and ended the weekend just seven points away from clinching the Premiership title.

But the unbridled fury of goalkeeper McGregor at seeing another clean sheet elude the champions-elect told Simpson all he needed to know about the environment he has stepped into after his winter transfer window deadline day move from Bournemouth.

The 24-year-old made his Rangers debut as a 66th-minute substitute for Filip Helander, one of the players he hopes to challenge for a regular slot in Steven Gerrard’s defence.

Simpson was given a testing introduction to Scottish football by the lively McNulty during his time on the pitch and admitted a little of the shine was taken off his big day by the late concession of the goal scored by the United forward.

"I am delighted to have made my debut and the most important thing is three points,” said Simpson.

"But, especially from the back four and goalkeeper's point of view, we are disappointed to concede a sloppy goal towards the end as clean sheets mean a lot to us with the standards we set here. So I am pleased, but also a little disappointed.”

Rangers manager Gerrard was happy to get Simpson involved but remained cautious over how much more game time he will be given between now and the end of the season.

“We will have to see,” said Gerrard. “We have got the luxury of having centre-backs who have performed ever so well over the season. We got Jack in early, which was a bonus.

“There was no rush or panic and we don’t need to be forceful to get him in. The game against United presented an opportunity to get him moving.

“He has been patient and waited for his debut and if we need to use him, we will use him. He has to keep fighting for more performances from now until the end of the season.

“It is very difficult to say to players ‘you are not playing today’ when they have been performing ever so well and keeping a lot of clean sheets.

“I am not saying I prefer those players, but they deserve to play and deserve the shirt and Jack needs to keep pushing and be patient.”

Simpson is confident he can prove a valuable addition to Gerrard’s squad if those opportunities come his way.

“I feel like the more I learn how the team plays and the more game time I get, the more comfortable I feel,” he told Rangers TV.

"I feel comfortable on the ball and I want to bring the ball out and be aggressive defensively on and off the ball. So I definitely feel like I can add something to the team.”

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