Maurice Ross has been impressed with Rangers transfer business this summer but he insists the true test lies ahead. 

A rebuild was required at Ibrox and Michael Beale has been active in signing five new players, with Cyriel Dessers expected to be announced today. 

Ross shares the growing sense of optimism amongst supporters but the former Rangers right-back knows all about the pressure of playing for the club and he hopes the new players can show the ‘mental toughness’ required to be successful. 

In an exclusive interview with the Rangers Review, Ross said: “I certainly like the recruitment that we’ve seen the last few months. I like the size of the boys that we are signing, I like the age of the boys and I’m excited for the season ahead to see if we can steamroll ahead. 

“I think there’s goals in this Rangers team but of course, we need another one or two in the building. 

“It’s one thing coming into the lovely new training ground and getting tours around the training ground, but you’ll see who the real Rangers players are when the ball gets rolling at Ibrox and they’re not winning 1-0 in the first 20 minutes. 

“Playing with Rangers isn’t just about technical ability, it’s about mental toughness. Whether you can handle not starting and going to the shop at 8am, getting abused everyday - these will determine how the new signings do. 

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“If you sign eight players in the summer then you’re lucky if half of them are bang on. Let’s hope that every single signing hits the ground running but you’ll see it quite quickly in the first six weeks.”

There’s been lots of attention on youth development in recent months with Rangers deciding not to enter a B team into the Lowland League next season after plans to introduce a  Conference League were scrapped. 

Ross managed Cowdenbeath against Rangers B last season and he isn’t impressed with the current system. 

“I think the whole thing is a waste of breath. What happened to Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Dundee United and Aberdeen playing in the youth league, then moving to the reserve league at 20 and playing against men - what was wrong with that? 

“It’s because you need to put elite, top level or Premiership in something. It’s all marketing and fluff. 

“The same best players will always come through, whether they’re playing in Antarctica or they're playing in the B team.”