Pedro Caixinha wants Bruno Alves to become a leader at Rangers

Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha has urged Bruno Alves to talk up after telling the veteran defender he wants him to be his eyes and ears on the pitch.

The 35-year-old centre-back made his first appearance in a blue jersey since sealing his summer switch from Cagliari during Saturday's friendly draw with Marseille.

The Portugal international gave a solid display during his hour-long run-out.

But Caixinha wants to see his compatriot make more use of his years of experience and provide Rangers with a strong voice at the back.

He told RangersTV: “Bruno is just with us for one week, he arrived one week from today.

“He's being a quiet boy, just observing and just getting to know everything around him, but he's that type of leader that doesn't need to express too much.

“Just his presence makes all the guys understand what is going on. In just a small conversation, a one v one situation, everybody understands.

“So that's the type of leadership Bruno has, more by his presence, and you ask me if I want more from him, I want a little bit more communication and also coaching from the back because he is seeing all the game.

“I really want Bruno to represent me on the pitch, definitely. That's one situation that I've been talking with him about and he's going to do it very easily.

“Bruno, when he just touched the first ball against Marseille, everybody was happy with him, everybody was happy with his leadership.

“He's a great boy, a great man that this club needs, especially having at the back that sort of leadership and experience and understanding of the game.''

The draw with the big-spending Ligue 1 outfit has provided a small - but much-needed - dose of cheer to Caixinha following his side's humiliating Europa League exit at the hands of Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn.

But Caixinha reckons his new-look side is gradually coming together.

He said: “Graham Dorrans in the middle of the park did great. Both of he and Bruno are not of course at the best fitness level, we need to put them up to that in the next two weeks.

“But only by understanding the game and understanding what it really means to play for this great club they can make the difference.

“Ryan Jack is another one that is getting used to it and adapting, and he is also helping us a lot to keep the balance of the team.

“It doesn't matter which way the team is playing he is always down there to give us the balance and I think the other one that has also conquered a little bit of our fans in Ibrox was Daniel Candeias.

“He also understands the way he needs to perform. He can do even better and give us a fantastic relationship on the right along with James Tavernier. I'm very glad that things are going in that direction.

“Carlos Pena, it was his first time, his first minutes in a game like this, Alfredo Morelos as well, so I believe that everybody is getting along together with the guys who continue from last season.

“I do believe that we are building a good team, a strong team, a competitive team and one that needs to be like all the great teams in the history of this great club.''

Rangers' pre-season campaign has been noteworthy for the dearth of goals being provided by their frontmen.

Caixinha, though, reckons a finishing touch is all that is missing to his side's build-up play.

“I know that it's not a problem,'' he insisted. “The problem is that if you don't create, if you don't arrive and if you don't generate football, but even against a team like Marseille you create a lot of situations and a lot of good situations.

“So that means you are arriving, you know how to build, you know how to create, you know how to explore. Now, you just need to finish the action and I know that that moment is about to come.

“We don't need to be stressful about it, we just need to keep working on the right direction of course because we know the goals are going to arrive. I'm not worried about that.'

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