Rangers fans have been enjoying a period of sustained form, even if a few away trips threw a wobble or two.

However one man has sat on the sidelines during this fruitful spell, watching on as Rangers moved on ‘without’ him.

Yes, Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland, who nailed form just as he then sustained a horrendous injury, has been a bystander during a time where his career was supposed to be hitting its zenith.

Shankland Rangers career captaincy

Going to the USA with his country for the world cup. Securing the move of his dreams to his boyhood heroes. Being awarded Rangers captaincy: Back in July Lawrence Shankland was in Blue Heaven.

His start in Govan wasn’t the best. He and the team didn’t quite click into gear and he found himself dropped, fairly or not.

But he got back in, got the groove back, only for that injury to set him back four months.

Dan Neil has been Rangers captain ever since.

Ibrox Noise makes no bones about the fact we don’t rate Neil highly at all. A couple of shock goals v Celtic does not a 6 at Rangers make, and Neil doesn’t measure up.

Dan Neil Rangers captain

We also find it insulting to Rangers as a club that a Sunderland reject could lead our club out at Hampden in the League Cup final. It should be Lawrence Shankland with the Rangers captaincy.

We find it more bewildering that he was given the vice-captaincy in the first place, over far stronger candidates.

But when Shankland returns? The League Cup final might be too early for him. 13th may be just too soon for Shankland to lead the side out. But it’s possible.

We’d take a half-fit Shanks over Dan Neil as Rangers captain.

Ibrox Noise was filled with optimism when the club finally got a proper Rangers captain again in Shankland, following years of the pathetic James Tavernier stewardship.

Unfortunately we’ve just ended up with another one in Dan Neil and we can only cross our fingers that Shanks will return soon enough to be able to wear the armband again ASAP.

We just don’t think it’ll be at Hampden.