Most would agree that if Rangers need to prioritise investment in one area of the pitch during the January window, it’s midfield.

The combined return of Connor Goldson and Ben Davies offers the novel concept of a settled back four and inclusion of an ‘extra goalscorer’ is spreading that particular burden at the top end of the pitch.

Ryan Kent and Malik Tillman, the connectors between the midfield and final third, can both be regarded as beneficiaries of managerial change. The former’s been unhinged from exclusively providing width on the left and seems better understood by Beale. Tillman continues to produce moments in the final third while developing consistency in other areas of his game.

Even the goalkeeping position, unquestionably an issue upon review of the numbers, appears to have an intended resolution. Jon McLaughlin started against Dundee United because of his strengths in dealing with high balls and playing out under pressure. If Beale continues to rotate, just like Steven Gerrard did in the months before his departure, he may well manage to minimise the weaknesses in Allan McGregor and McLaughlin’s respective profiles that have been exposed since the start of last season.

The midfield has thrown up more problems. John Lundstram and Glen Kamara have both had to manage their minutes with the former taking injections to play through the festive period and latter also carrying an injury that Beale confirmed he “probably should’ve had an operation on”.

Despite being very much in the twilight of his career, Steven Davis still had a part to play before his season-ending injury. Beale believed the 38-year-old hadn’t lost sharpness in the manager’s year away from Ibrox and, armed with five substitutes, still planned to field him even if not always from the start. Ryan Jack put in his best showing for some time during Sunday’s second half against Dundee United but has had well-documented injury troubles of his own to contend with in recent years.

The reality is, even if that quartet represented a full bill of health, this midfield would still require investment in the form of additions.

READ MORE: Could Todd Cantwell provide Rangers' missing link in midfield?

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In the past, Beale’s split his midfield into five profiles.

  •  The energizer: The team’s motor, physically capable of running box-to-box all game. Usually a good ball carrier.
  •  The passer: Possesses great passing range and the ability to take risks in order to break lines.
  •  The magician: A player with flair who can act in tight spaces, provide creativity and go forward.
  •  The spider in the web: Controls play and connects the attack from deeper areas of the pitch.
  • The destroyer: Breaks up opposition attacks and largely remains deep to provide defensive balance.

So, what profile of player does this current squad lack?

This article is more focused on player roles rather than binary positions and splits Beale’s system into four areas. Defenders, deep-lying midfielders, attacking midfielders and forwards. These four areas are definable when analysing the team’s passing network from Sunday’s 2-0 win against Dundee United.

This graphic provides an average position from which a player made their passes, providing a reliable in-possession shape.

Notice the full-backs providing width, Lundstram playing as the deepest midfielder with Jack supporting attacks on the left, Kent and Tillman occupying space behind the two ‘goalscorers’ Sakala and Colak.

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Rangers have magicians, capable of linking the midfield to the attack and providing a goal threat outside of Beale’s two forwards in every line-up. Think Tillman, Kent, Alex Lowry, Scott Arfield and, when fit, Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence.

Of course, as with every player, there will be crossover. Lawrence and Tillman can also go box-to-box, while Hagi possesses vision and range with his passes from deep. Arfield has elements of the energizer profile within his game, although he is not a ball carrier.

The area that needs additions comes behind this attacking midfield line. Without Davis in the team, Rangers have lost their best spider in the web and most effective passer.

Rangers Review:

Lundstram is an energizer who can travel box-to-box and has fulfilled the spider in the web role more recently. But he doesn’t possess the deep-lying creative profile of Davis.

Jack is also capable of carrying his side up the pitch and, like Lundstram, can break up opposition attacks while Kamara arguably boasts a segment of every profile, being a press-resistant player who excels in the build-up.

Meanwhile, James Sands and Charlie McCann haven’t been handed a chance by Beale in the middle.

The lack of players who fit the passer or spider in the web profile explains why Kent, Tillman and even Lowry have dropped deeper to aid ball progression in recent weeks.

Tillman’s ball-carrying can be an effective tool to drive Rangers from box to box, Lowry often dropped into the left-back position against Motherwell and Kent becomes an extra man in the midfield, handed complete freedom by Beale.

Under Gerrard, Rangers moved away from playing with a destroyer at the base of midfield, and there isn’t the need to sign another. The player lining up at the base of midfield is more often tasked with opening up the opposition defence rather than screening his own in domestic matches.

Whether it be a player capable of carrying the ball from middle to front, passing their way to goal or controlling a game’s tempo, a deep-lying No.6 should be the priority this January window. Beale needs a player who can break lines and control the attack from deep as he leads Rangers into the second part of this season.