THE focus is on earning points rather than proving them. In both regards, the relationship between Ryan Jack and Michael Beale will be defining for Rangers.
The midfielder has already done his bit for his new manager and Jack's strike in the win over Hibernian on Thursday evening ensured Beale marked his return to Ibrox with a result that was as positive as aspects of the performance.
It will become evident over the course of the next few weeks what Beale can hope to achieve on his return to Rangers. That period could also shape the future for Jack as he enters the final months of his contract.
The appointment of a new manager always sees the slates wiped clean at any club but the situation with Beale is unique. It is only just over a year ago, after all, that he was part of the management team that Steven Gerrard was aiming to guide to a Premiership title defence.
Recent days have seen Beale and the familiar faces within the squad pick up where they left off and Jack is no different in that regard. He was an integral member of the group for more than three seasons under Gerrard and his desire is to be equally as influential now that Beale is back.
No discussions over an extension to his contract have taken place as of yet and Beale has insisted that no places are safe as he assesses what he has inherited and what he requires to recruit during an intense period of analysis at Ibrox. For Jack, the groundwork has already been laid.
“Yeah look I had a great relationship with the gaffer when he was last here as a coach," Jack said. "I loved his ideas on the game and the way he wants his teams to play the game.
"So for me it is just about buying into that and hopefully going forward I can help the team. We can all buy into it and have a successful second half of the season.
“Look I don’t think I need to prove anything to anyone. I think I know what I can bring and I have worked with the manager before so I don’t think it is case of me going every day and proving I am good enough.
"He knows what I can bring and he knows how I see the game. I think going forward for myself I just want to play as many games as I can and be successful."
The World Cup break provided Beale with the ideal opportunity to become reacquainted with those that won 55 last May and forge new ways of working with the players that were signed during Giovanni van Bronckhorst's short Ibrox reign.
It was beneficial for Jack, too. A 20-minute run-out against Turkey came just days after he has returned from an injury lay-off against St Mirren and a programme that he describes as a 'mini pre-season' has allowed him to be fully prepared for the second half of the campaign.
Jack came through that schedule in Dubai with 'flying colours'. Now Beale will attempt to find further individual improvements to help Rangers make the collective gains that are required this term.
“He has been great," Jack said. "He has obviously come back up on to the staff again and for us as players it has been good to listen to his voice again.
“He is great around the training ground and I think his ideas on football are top notch. For us as players it is important we listen to what he has to say and work hard every day. If we do that we will learn something and improve a lot.
“He is very strong on his drills and how he wants the game to look for the team that he is managing. For us you just need to buy into it and work hard.
"Obviously it is going to be different from how it was under the last set of staff so there is maybe going to be a period when it is not all plain sailing and straight away we just adapt again.
"Since he has come in the training has been top notch in terms of the intensity he wants us to play and hopefully we can keep that going."
That intensity was seen in spells against Hibernian as Fashion Sakala and Alfredo Morelos also found the target. Come Tuesday evening, Rangers cannot afford to let their levels drop as they make the trip to face Aberdeen.
These fixtures need no introduction and Jack knows them better than anyone in either squad. He admits the matches with Rangers were always hyped up by the supporters and manager Derek McInnes during his time at Pittodrie and Beale's side will once again be on the end of a less than friendly welcome.
“Look it is not just for me, I think for us as a team it is going to be a tough test," Jack said. "It always is, they make it difficult for us.
"It is their biggest game but for me we just need to make sure we are fully focussed and are recovered by Tuesday to the extent every one of us is ready to go.
“I think you have to [relish it]. In football you can’t shy away from hard games. Every player knows that going to Pittodrie you are going to need to give 110% to get a result.
"That is just the way it is and I am sure everyone will go and do that and we can get another one."
The importance of victory at Pittodrie cannot be understated for Rangers. Seeing off Hibernian was a small step in the right direction but many more must be taken if Beale is to keep the faint title dreams alive this season.
A wretched run during the final weeks of Van Bronckhorst's reign have left Rangers firmly on the back foot in the Premiership and any talk of a potential challenge must first acknowledge the position that Beale has picked up from.
“I think we all know that," Jack said. "It is not rocket science, you look at the league and we are behind so you are chasing straight away.
"We need to try and be perfect the next five games and then we will see what comes after that.
“But the manager has been big on trying to isolate every game, put our whole concentration into each one and if we do that then I am sure we will do alright."
