The Mechanic is planning a fight on four fronts as the Ibrox club aims for a title, the Scottish Cup, and European victory in addition to the League Cup.

There is a drawback to being known as a miracle worker.

If you repeatedly defy defined logic, the desire to believe that water can be walked on will become virtually overpowering. Philippe Clement is soon to face a precarious situation, if not already. After inheriting the equivalent of five loaves and two fish from Michael Beale, Clement is now in the latter stages of an incredible turnaround campaign. Over the next few days, the Rangers manager may reconsider if beating Benfica on Thursday night is worth the effort.

If such notion occurs, it is likely to be discarded immediately. Clement ‘The Mechanic’ is driven by a genuine desire to win – at any cost – and it is this steely mindset that has radically altered the fortunes of a squad that was doomed before he took the helm.

The team has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, reached the Scottish Cup final four, and is currently leading the Premiership by two points. The individual in charge cannot be faulted for becoming greedy when so much is still on the table. And, after feeding the 5,000, he shouldn’t be. After all, what manager worth his salt would purposefully limit the scope of his own goals?

However, the longer and more impressive his first season in Scottish football gets, the greater the toll it takes. The wait outside the medical room at the club’s Auchenhowie headquarters will serve as a reminder to Clement of this.

He could also be concerned about recent history, which shows that lengthy European campaigns are just incompatible with domestic success in Scotland. When Celtic made it to the UEFA Cup Final under Martin O’Neil in 2003, Rangers stayed at home and won a treble.

When Walter Smith duplicated that feat in 2008, his squad ran out of steam before the finish line and collapsed from weariness in the last few yards of the championship race.

And when Giovanni van Bronckhorst created history by guiding the Ibrox club all the way to Seville two years ago, Ange Postecoglou came up big in terms of winning the Scottish title.

Van Bronckhorst was so limited by going the distance in Europe that he finished the competition with Joe Aribo as a striker. After six months, he lost his job. Clement is now left juggling plates as injuries pile up inside his hospital room.

Cole McKinnon is the latest in a succession of reinforcements to be called into action as the body count rises. The 21-year-old, who has had loan spells at East Fife and Partick Thistle, was thrown into action at the Stadium of Light last Thursday, came off the bench again at Hibs on Sunday, and could play again under the lights at Ibrox when the Portuguese heavyweights arrive for the second leg.

McKinnon, like the rest of them, is a willing follower of Clement’s infinite ideology. He said: “It demonstrates his belief. It was 2-2 at Benfica when I arrived, and we were only 1-0 ahead against Hibs in a tense encounter. So it demonstrates his belief in younger players.

“The manager has been excellent with everyone. As soon as he entered the building, the players’ mentalities changed, and everyone bought into what he was trying to do.

I know myself, and I feel a lot better working under him, and he is helping me become a better player in a variety of ways.

“So I’ve really enjoyed working with him, and I’m grateful that I’m there training, and that he’s obviously given me these opportunities.” It’s due to unfortunate circumstances – a few of injuries – but you have to seize opportunities when they arise, and I’m looking forward to Thursday.”

Regardless of Clement’s best intentions, one irrefutable fact remains. There are two compelling reasons why Rangers will almost likely not win European silverware this season, even if they complete the work they began against Benfica to reach the last eight. Liverpool and Leverkusen.

But, for the time being, McKinnon and his teammates do not want to be woken up from the dream their boss has started. He continued, “It was actually rather strange to be out there on the same pitch as some of those Benfica players the other night.

“I’m used to seeing these men on TV, and now I’m amongst them! It’s great. However, you can only take so much from it; after all, it is my work. You have to go in there and play; you can’t be too star struck about it all. But I loved it while I was in there; it was a wonderful experience.”

McKinnon signed his first professional deal at Ibrox on the same day as Ross McCausland, who has secured a spot in Clement’s squad and was the only fit winger remaining in Lisbon last week.

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