Rohl

While Youssef Chermiti earned rave reviews for his Old Firm heroics at the start of the month, he and Bojan Miovski passed up chances on Thursday and questions still linger over their ability to hold down the number nine shirt.

“Rangers aren’t the finished article, there’s still work to be done but they’re going in the right direction,” McFadden said. “There has been big progression, but they need to strengthen at the top end.

“They’re winning games. Are they at their free-flowing best? No, but it doesn’t matter. Somehow, they’ve managed to get themselves into a title race.”

At least there have been some reinforcements. Toko Chukwuani has come in as a defensive midfielder, and Rohl has also brought in left-back Tuur Rommens – a problem position given Jayden Meghoma was the only natural in the position – and winger Andreas Skov Olsen.

The latter is considered a big coup, on loan from Wolfsburg, and adds much-needed quality to the wings. Djiedi Gassama’s form has tailed off, and although Mikey Moore has come onto a game, Oliver Antman is still out injured.

Ineligible for the win over Ludogorets, the trio are expected to feature in some capacity against Dundee. That game could be vital in the grand scheme of the season, due to Hearts and Celtic meeting at Tynecastle the same day.

“I thought this season was a write-off,” admitted pundit Steven Thompson at Ibrox. “There were changes at board level, the recruitment wasn’t anywhere near good enough but Danny Rohl has flipped the script.

“You’ve got to give him so much credit for that. At times the football was good tonight, at times it was just OK. But it’s a clean sheet in Europe, and it just keeps this feel-good factor going.”

If the other two title contenders knock points off each other, Rangers could be within three points. Heady heights from the early days of Martin.

“Danny Rohl has done an absolutely fantastic job with this group of players,” said ex-Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday. “There is that lingering question – can they go that extra yard? A lot of people didn’t this group of players could step up.

“I think they need help, and the biggest help they could be given is a number nine at the top end of the pitch.”

New Rangers winger Skov Olsen says fans can expect him to “go for it” and hopes to end the season lifting trophies.

The Denmark international has signed on loan from Wolfsburg until the end of the campaign, with Rangers holding the option to make the move permanent in the summer.

Skov Olsen, 26, has made only 10 appearances for the Bundesliga side since his summer move from Club Brugge.

He excelled in Belgium, scoring 49 goals and providing 30 assists in 124 games and Skov Olsen told BBC Sport Scotland he hopes to show fans he can recapture that form at Ibrox.

“Hopefully I can bring extra strength to the front, to both score and create for the team,” he said.

“I think they can expect I will try to break through, [going] inside and outside. Shoot and set up my mates. Just go, even [if I] lose the ball – go again.

“That’s what they can expect – I will try and go for it.

“It’s a very interesting time. But we have to take one game at a time and win the next one in front of us. Hopefully at the end of the season we’ll lift trophies.”

Skov Olsen played at Nordsjaelland in Denmark and with Bologna in Serie A before his move to Club Brugge.

He added he spoke to various people about the club, including some current Rangers players who he played with in his homeland.

“I know some of the guys from Nordsjaelland back in the day. [Oliver] Antman, the new signing Tochi [Chukwuani], and Dio [Mohamed Diomande].

“I know the guys a bit so it was very lovely to see them after some years.

“I spoke through a friend with Antman who came in the summer, obviously Tochi has just arrived, other than that I spoke to some other people about the club who only had good things to say.”

Rangers are working round the clock to recruit players now that the January window is open, says head coach Danny Rohl.

With Rohl having been appointed in October, this winter period is the German’s first opportunity to make changes to his squad.

“We work at the moment 24/7 for players,” he said,

“It’s about decision making, it’s about negotiations, it’s about timing. We have some players in our mind but you have to be a little bit patient.

“You always hope as a manager, as a head coach to get very early the players in.

“January window you have to be patient, you have to be demanding, I think this is also important and you have to take the opportunities and there are opportunities in the market.”