{"id":266446,"date":"2026-10-08T16:20:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T16:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/08\/lawrence-shankland-says-improving-rangers-star-has-been-fantastic-in-training\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T16:20:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T16:20:12","slug":"lawrence-shankland-says-improving-rangers-star-has-been-fantastic-in-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/08\/lawrence-shankland-says-improving-rangers-star-has-been-fantastic-in-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawrence Shankland says improving Rangers star has been fantastic in training"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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Rangers<\/a> headed into the international break with belief restored after a run which has transformed the mood around Ibrox.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Derek McInnes<\/a> faced early pressure following a difficult start and some painful European results, but his team have answered with six consecutive victories in all competitions, including Scottish Premiership<\/a> wins over Aberdeen, Falkirk, Motherwell and St Mirren.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Russell Cheyne<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The biggest statement came against Celtic.<\/p>\n

Rangers won 3-0 at Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup before claiming a 1-0 league victory at Parkhead a week later. They kept five clean sheets across that impressive six-match run, showing a new level of control and resilience.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Rangers\u2019 six-match winning run<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Date<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Competition<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Fixture<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Result<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Venue<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Clean sheet<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

30 August 2026<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Scottish Premiership<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Aberdeen vs Rangers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2 September 2026<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Scottish Premiership<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Falkirk vs Rangers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5 September 2026<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Scottish Premiership<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rangers vs Motherwell<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1-0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Home<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9 September 2026<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Scottish Premiership<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rangers vs St Mirren<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1-0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Home<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

13 September 2026<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Premier Sports Cup<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rangers vs Celtic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3-0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Home<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

20 September 2026<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Scottish Premiership<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Celtic vs Rangers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0-1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Away<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Dan Neil<\/a> has become one of the clearest symbols of the turnaround.<\/p>\n

The summer signing arrived from Sunderland with a major reputation but found it difficult to impose himself immediately.<\/p>\n

As Rangers struggled for consistency, the midfielder also came under scrutiny from supporters who expected him to take charge of games.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"dan-neil-rangers-celtic\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Craig Brough<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Everything changed during the first Old Firm meeting.<\/p>\n

Neil scored twice in the 3-0 victory, producing two excellent finishes and delivering the sort of commanding display Rangers had been waiting to see.<\/p>\n

He then played another important role as McInnes\u2019s side dominated the middle of the pitch at Parkhead.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Lawrence Shankland says Dan Neil has been fantastic in Rangers training<\/strong>
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\"lawrence-shankland-ryan-naderi-rangers\"\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Jason Cairnduff<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Lawrence Shankland says Neil\u2019s improvement was no surprise to his teammates.<\/p>\n

The injured Rangers captain has revealed that the midfielder had been showing his quality in training long before his Old Firm breakthrough.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was delighted for Dan Neil; I will say that, I was delighted for Dan Neil,\u201d said Shankland at a press conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously he came here with the expectations really big and when things are not going very well, people like to be vocal about it, and they go on about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Dan had a bit of a tough run at the start and I felt for him the rewards are, obviously, getting the two goals in the Old Firm, two really, really good finishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was what I was seeing at training every day and the player that\u2019s in there.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"dan-neil-rangers-goal\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Craig Brough<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt is obviously difficult when you are getting into the arena at Ibrox and it\u2019s so hostile and everybody is kind of pushing for that success.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be difficult at times, and obviously we were getting through a tough moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was important for him to kind of have a moment like that, and I felt he had really pushed on from there, so he has led the team very well, obviously, and getting two spectacular goals always helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neil\u2019s partnership with Nico Raskin has helped Rangers become more aggressive and composed through midfield, and the pair were particularly effective across the two victories over Celtic and now look capable of driving the side forward.<\/p>\n

Rangers return to action against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday, when McInnes will demand that the improvement continues.<\/p>\n

The next challenge for Neil is to maintain the level which has already made him a training ground standout and an Old Firm hero.<\/p>\n