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Three wins on the trot have not masked the many problems starkly inherent in Michael Beale's Rangers squad despite the undoubted injection of some life into their Scottish Premiership campaign.

Good results do not mask that it's quite certain that players will have to be added in the January transfer window to ensure the team will have the required quality to reach some of its remaining objectives for the season. The problem lies in the notorious nature of the window which tends to offer up the kind of tantalising gamble witnessed 12 months ago with the arrival of Aaron Ramsey.  "If you can just get him fit he will..." was the start to many a pundit's opinion on the matter, including my own. Looked at objectively, it was always going to be a tough challenge to do so given the stop-start nature of Ramsey's physical problems. That he missed the defining Europa League final penalty was an especially brutal piece of punctuation to a story that was already shaping up to be an unhappy tale of what might have been.

All that is old ground but it's the kind of sexy, last-minute deal Beale might be smart to avoid. Rangers, or more specifically the sporting director Ross Wilson, can't afford to roll the dice on transfers anymore. Rightly or wrongly, Wilson is not a popular figure amongst the rank and file, even in spite of a robust defence of his role and actions at the club's AGM. 

Despite the rough ride and being beset by awful injury luck, the truth is, the transfer business in the summer looks to be shaping up rather nicely with the notable exception of struggling winger Rabbi Matondo. The Welshman has the skillset to come good and age on his side, although it has to be said, Beale was accurate to point out what looks to be a "crisis of confidence" nagging at the kid and weighing him down. Only time will tell if the arrival of a new manager can spark something.

Regardless of issues on the right wing, the biggest area for improvement is clearly in the centre of the park where Steven Davis' injury has only compounded a lack of options. 

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The manager has already admitted it's a priority. He said ahead of the Motherwell match: "We’re looking to strengthen everywhere if I’m honest, but in midfield, there is a little but of uncertainty, I think it’s fair to say. When you write down our midfield we have a couple of loan players, two or three out of contract at the end of the season. Glen Kamara seems to get linked with a new club every day as well. Midfield is an area we will look to strengthen moving forward."

With Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence set to return, the more attacking roles are already packed with quality, especially when you factor in Malik Tillman's impact under the new manager and Alex Lowry champing at the bit for a chance. It's in the engine room where a bit of box-to-box energy, physicality and bite could add a new dimension to this team.

While it will be hard to sift through the usual detritus and find a bargain, there are always gems out there waiting to be polished. 

It's important to remember that a new man now leads up the scouting department in John Park and 2023 will represent his first chance to show what talent he's uncovered.

READ MORE: Harry Forrester's Rangers rollercoaster and American coaching dream

While Scott Arfield, Davis, Lundstram, Sands and Kamara still have plenty to offer in the here and now, only Arfield and Lundstram chip in with goals and a touch of youthful dynamism certainly wouldn't go amiss.

If Beale is to recruit anywhere, you'd imagine that the centre of midfield is where he will move to add some vigour. There won't be a fortune on the table but if the new manager can somehow find one or two that can tangibly improve the starting XI then he will have navigated the slings and arrows of the window with aplomb.

With some going and some staying, if Rangers can get their recruitment right, then they might just have a chance of salvaging something special from a season that, only weeks ago, looked certain to be a painful one for the Ibrox faithful.