Derek McInnes has officially begun life as Rangers manager, but five first-team players were missing as the club returned for pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
With the Ibrox side undergoing a major rebuild this summer, the absences only reinforced the sense that significant changes are taking place behind the scenes.
Five Players Missing
Several familiar names were unavailable as Rangers kicked off pre-season under their new manager.
Ivor Pandur
Rangers’ new goalkeeper was absent after completing his move from Hull City earlier this summer. The Croatian shot-stopper is expected to link up with the squad after completing his post-transfer programme.
Lawrence Shankland
The Scotland striker also missed the opening session. Rangers are managing his workload following his arrival, with the club keen to have him fully fit for the start of the competitive season.
Jack Butland
The experienced goalkeeper was naturally absent following his summer departure. Butland has completed a permanent move away from Ibrox after two seasons with the club.
Nicolas Raskin
The Belgian midfielder remains unavailable after representing Belgium at the World Cup. His future also continues to attract speculation, with several European clubs monitoring his situation.
Thelo Aasgaard
Norwegian international Thelo Aasgaard is another player still away on international duty after helping his country reach the latter stages of the World Cup.
McInnes Begins His Rebuild
The opening day of pre-season marks the beginning of a new era under McInnes.
Rangers have already strengthened the squad with the arrivals of Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie, Ben Godfrey, Dan Neil and Ivor Pandur, while further additions are expected before the transfer window closes.
Several departures could also follow as McInnes reshapes the squad to fit his preferred style.
More Changes Expected
Nicolas Raskin continues to be linked with clubs across Europe following his impressive performances for Belgium, while Rangers are expected to remain active in both the transfer and loan markets over the coming weeks.
With pre-season now underway, McInnes will be hoping to have the majority of his squad assembled before the new campaign begins.
The Bottom Line
Five players were unavailable as Rangers returned for pre-season under Derek McInnes.
Some absences were expected due to transfers and international commitments, while others highlight the scale of the rebuild currently taking place at Ibrox.
