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The duo of Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson keeping new signings George Edmundson and Filip Helander out of the starting XI points to a Rangers squad filled with depth and rich in quality.

On the chalkboard

With Edmundson brought in from Oldham and, more expensively, Helander signed from Bologna for £3.5m, Steven Gerrard's options at the back look particularly strong.

Yet, the duo of Katic and Goldson have been the unquestioned first-choice partnership so far, and rightly so. The two centre-backs have been pivotal to their side's early-season form.

The Gers have conceded just once this term, against Kilmarnock, and even then the defenders showed their attacking prowess with Katic setting up the opener and Goldson bulleting in a dramatic late winner in the 2-1 win.

This depth of options and ability wasn't there at Ibrox last season and can be used as a good base for a successful season.

What an improvement

We're yet to see Helander in competitive action for the Light Blues but as a player who made 84 appearances in Serie A, he comes with a good CV. We have seen a bit more of the young English defender Edmundson, as he started against Progres Niederkorn and St. Joseph's, keeping a clean sheet in both matches.

These two as back-ups, for the time being, is impressive when you look at who filled those roles last season.

Joe Worrall and Gareth McAuley were Goldson and Katic's reinforcements in the previous campaign, with the duo making a combined total of 42 appearances in their sole season at Ibrox.

McAuley had just ten outings for Gerrard's side and was clearly well past it at the ripe old age of 38, while Worrall was crucified by fans on several occasions for his lack of ability.

The improvement on this time last season is already starting to show. Gerrard has assembled four good options going into the campaign, and will no longer be relying on a struggling loanee and a player who is closer to 40 than 30.

The depth and quality in the Gers' squad have both improved over the summer, and nothing exemplifies it better than the upgrades in the heart of defence.

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