Rangers

While seven league defeats have curtailed Celtic’s defence of the title, 11 draws have left Rangers frustrated in their pursuit of Hearts.

The most recent was a 2-2 draw from two down at Livingston last week while Celtic lost at home to Hibernian. The weekend before, Rangers recovered from 1-0 and 2-1 down to defeat Hearts 4-2 at Ibrox.

“My team showed character, big personality in the last couple of weeks,” Rohl added.

“Also to come back away in Celtic, in the stadium there after 1-0 down, showed that even if the game goes in one direction, what we don’t want, we always have a chance to come back.

“Yeah, we dropped two points [at Livingston]. We missed two points. But let’s turn it in a positive way. At the end, we won one point after 2-0 down.

“When you are a manager and you have the chance to play at home this kind of game, then you are also on fire. We are on fire. It was a good training week so far.

“I feel the confidence, I feel the belief. It’s not just about the shape and the tactic, but it’s also about how we go in duels, how we win the balls, how we play forward.”

The German said: “It’s a crucial game, but no team will be out after this game because there are still 27 points you can take. It’s two matchdays and you are in the title race again.

“It’s a crucial one because when you come closer and closer to the end of the season and there is more and more in, then you know every game is important.”

Moore’s team-mates created just seven chances between them at Hibs on Sunday.

He registered five alone on Wednesday, while his seven dribbles were also higher than any other player.

Game state has to come into that, of course. At the weekend, Rangers were playing against 11 men, away to a top-six side. Struggling Kilmarnock were a man and a goal down after a few minutes on Wednesday.

A goal-scoring performance from the England youth international in the Old Firm derby win at Celtic last month looked set to ignite his Ibrox career, but seven games without a goal contribution followed.

Despite that, the Ibrox side just appear a livelier and more unpredictable proposition with Moore in the line-up.

A mid-season injury and squad rotation has meant Moore has failed to feature in 12 of Rangers’ 25 league matches, but Rohl is now demanding consistency as his side attempt to reel Hearts in.

“We know Mikey, that should be the level for him again and again,” the Rangers head coach told BBC Scotland.

“This is the next step for him, consistency. But I will not speak about individual performances, it’s about the team.”

On Naderi, Rohl said of the German who joined from Hansa Rostock: “I’m very happy that we could sign him, very late. It was a long process with him. He showed straight away that he wanted to come and was very clear.

“We tracked him the last couple of weeks and months. He scored, he had some good assists, he’s powerful, he can run. Good header, good physicality, good pressing player – a lot of things we need up front. He needs some minutes to adapt to a new league.

“He played regularly a lot of minutes in the last couple of weeks.”

Rohl also likened Naderi to Germany forwards Fredi Bobic and Nick Woltemade, the latter with Newcastle United and Bobic having retired in 2006.

Scottish Premiership leaders Heart of Midlothian could move nine points clear of Celtic and Rangers with victory over St Mirren on Tuesday evening (20:00 GMT). Rangers host Kilmarnock on Wednesday (19:45), when Celtic are away to Aberdeen (20:00).

“We have minimum two games against them,” Rohl said of “consistent” Hearts.

“We can win a lot of games until the end of the season. I can’t give you the guarantee that we win 14 games because there is still the opponent.

“I’m totally convinced that this group has everything to move forward in these final steps.”

“He is someone who has a lot of potential and I believe we can help take his game to the next level.”

Now he has taken what should be a step up to the Scottish Premiership, the striker told Rangers’ website: “I plan to make the most of this opportunity.”

Naderi has dual German and Bulgarian citizenship through his father, while he also qualifies for the Czech Republic through his mother.

He started with local club Dynamo Dresden as a youth before joining Monchengladbach’s academy, playing for their second team before his move to Hansa.

Naderi becomes Rangers’ fourth signing of the January transfer window following the arrival of winger Andreas Skov Olsen on loan from Wolfsburg, midfielder Tochi Chukwuani from Sturm Graz and defender Tuur Rommens from Westerlo.

He arrives on a transfer deadline day when midfielder Joe Rothwell joined Sheffield United from Rangers on a permanent deal, while centre-half Clinton Nsiala was sent to Westerlo on a loan with an option to buy.

“I’m now fully focused on the league,” Rohl told the media just a few minutes after the final ball had been kicked in Portugal.

“We have a mission and for this, we have all our energy now.”

Perhaps it will end up being a blessing for the Rangers head coach. He is on a fantastic run domestically – winning his last seven – and the lack of European distraction might help them sharpen that focus.

Three of the next four games will truly test their credentials. First up, it’s Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday afternoon (14:00 GMT).

After games against dwindling Kilmarnock and Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup it’s Motherwell at Fir Park on 11 February (20:00).

Four days later, they welcome Hearts to Ibrox – who have beaten them twice already this season. Three of the top five, two away from home. It’s a huge test of their credentials.

“We are now fully focused on 15 match days in the league and it helps us to have two normal weeks,” Rohl added. “It’s the first time we can really train and can be fresh.

“We did well with the rotation. The next two-and-a-half weeks we have big games ahead and we need everyone. Some players will come back, some trained today.

“We kept one coach in Glasgow with them to be as prepared as possible. On Sunday, we go again with full conviction.”