Rangers boss McInnes says extended break has stalled his side
Rangers manager Derek McInnes says he is "not a fan" of the extended international break.
He called the lay-off "too long". It has left his in-form side kicking their heels for almost three weeks, according to BBC Sport.
Rangers went into the pause on a run of six straight victories. The last two both came against Celtic, their Glasgow rivals, first in the League Cup and then 20 September in the Scottish Premiership, Scotland's top flight. Form like that is precious. McInnes does not want to lose it.
The break, a scheduled pause when club football stops for national-team matches, emptied his training ground. Thirteen Rangers players went away on international duty after that league win over Celtic. McInnes will not have his full squad back together until Friday, 19 days after the derby.
That is just one day before Rangers host Kilmarnock. One full session together is little time to prepare. It is the part of international football that club managers like least.
McInnes would have preferred to keep playing while confidence was high. Winning breeds rhythm. A long gap breaks it.
His frustration is shared in Glasgow. Former Rangers boss Barry Ferguson said earlier this month that the break "is going on for too long", in comments reported by GlasgowWorld.
There was some good news for McInnes during the wait. He was named Scottish Premiership manager of the month for September after that winning run. It was reward for turning momentum into results, including those back-to-back derby wins.
He also revealed he had lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson at Rangers' training ground. Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager, remains one of the most respected voices in the British game. McInnes did not give details, but it was a welcome visit during a quiet week.
For fans, this is the test of a good run. Six wins lift the mood around any club. The challenge now is to restart quickly.
What makes this stand out is the timing. Rangers beat Celtic twice and then had to stop. Kilmarnock at home is a chance to show the break has not dulled them. McInnes will hope his internationals return fit and his message lands fast.
