Left-footed centre-backs are a commodity in world football, in particular for sides who in the main are looking to break teams down week on week.

In my opinion, it’s why Steven Gerrard was so keen to get Jack Simpson in at Ibrox as early as possible. So that he and his coaching staff could work with the 24-year-old ahead of the new season.

If you’ve watched Rangers over the past few seasons, you’ll know the pattern matches often follow domestically.

Teams restrict space and look to show Rangers wide. While Rangers look to move the ball quickly, create space through off-ball movement and exploit any room that becomes available.

Often the difference between having the time for a cross, or creating the space in a back line is a matter of really thin margins. Only seconds separate a defender closing a gap or a player shutting down an opportunity that could offer an avenue to goal.

Think how different an average goal scored in Europe is for Rangers compared to in domestic competition. Or the space a player like Ryan Kent receives playing on the continent compared to in the league. The game states are always very different.

When playing a team who sit this deep, Rangers need to move the defence.

They have developed a number of methods to combat a low block. Whether that be switches of play from Connor Goldson, overloads on the right which release James Tavernier in behind, Alfredo Morelos dropping deep, or stretching the opposition by moving the ball quickly from flank to flank.

The second goal Rangers scored against St Johnstone in a 3-0 home win is a good example of the latter.

But where does a left-footed centre-back come into this?

Firstly, let’s look back at the 18/19 season when Rangers often played with a right-footed player at left-back and at left centre-back.

A pass map taken from Rangers’ 1-0 home defeat to Aberdeen in the December of Gerrard’s first season, compared to that of a 5-0 drubbing of Ross County in the campaign just gone past, demonstrates how the balance of the side improves with natural width on the left side of defence. Allowing the front three to remain more compact in turn.

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The signing of Fil Helander, and subsequently what Jack Simpson should bring to the side after a full pre-season working under Gerrard and Michael Beale, allows Rangers to have two left-footed central defenders that are both able to open the pitch up from their starting position.

Being on their natural side, their body position allows them to move the ball quickly and play around players that try to block passing lanes. Making it more difficult for the opposition to manipulate the space Rangers have to play in and easier for Rangers to stretch play.

To exemplify how the body positioning of a central defender playing on his natural side can aid a teams build-up, we can look at Connor Goldson’s role in Rangers’ 2-1 win over Galatasaray earlier in the season.

Goldson plays a simple ball, but the point of focusing on this is to show how much easier build-up is when defenders can open the pitch up and distribute with their stronger foot. 

If Goldson was playing on his 'wrong side' this pass becomes much more difficult. Because he can allow the pass from Allan McGregor to come across his body, he can open the pitch and find the passing option to Tavernier.

Left-footed centre-backs are difficult to get hold of. The prospect therefore of two at the club who are comfortable in possession bodes well for the future.

By playing two centre-backs on their natural side, Rangers can move the ball quicker, bypass the opposition when they try to block passing lanes and exploit the width in their side.