With the new attacking signings that have come in the door at Rangers this month, all the talk is about how Graeme Murty will set his team up personnel and shape-wise.

One thing is for sure, in the forward areas we have a much deeper and varied array of options than we did have at the beginning of the season. None more so than in the wide areas. The signing of Jamie Murphy was an important one. It appears – if we take the Florida Cup games into account – that Murty will look to primarily play a 4-2-3-1 system.

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With that system, it means we will have to utilise wide players. For me, despite the additions, Daniel Candeias has to be the first pick of the three players in behind the striker. When I wrote about Jamie Murphy’s arrival, the point I kept coming back to was the balance of the side. If we are to achieve that, Candeias is vital.

I believe that his influence and impact on the side has been quite underrated and undervalued by many fans. I will admit, when we signed him, I wasn’t too sure about him. Essentially, he’s a 29-year-old nomadic winger. But to his credit, bar a few indifferent performances in December, his contribution has been superb, which has led him becoming one of the most important cogs in the blue machine.

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His stats for assist are a league-high of six. He also has two goals. I find it absolutely baffling that people wish to leave him out the side and are suggesting the likes of Jason Cummings – a central striker – to play wide right. It’s nonsense. It also goes back to the point about the balance of the side.

It’s not only his attacking qualities that would be missed if he was left out. In my opinion, he has been a massive help to James Tavernier on the right-hand side. They have built a well-balanced and effective partnership. Everything that has been good about our play this season, more often than not, has come from them. So breaking up that partnership isn’t something I would be urging the manager to do.

Candeias’ work rate and his willingness to press is second to none. Following on from the point on his partnership with Tavernier, If we are to be successful using this 4-2-3-1 system, then he simply has to play. Let’s not forget he is also a better option than any of the other right-wingers within the squad just now.

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I think we have ourselves a really good player for under £1m in him; he is the kind of player who sets the tempo from the start of games. Leaving him out, especially if we are playing a system which compliments wingers, would be a mistake and we would be worse off for it. That would be underlined when taking into account his ability to create chances and his pace, alongside the aforementioned work-rate and willingness to work hard out of possession.

I hope the manager feels the same and we have brought in the new additions to compliment guys like Candeias rather than replace him at this point in time. It’s great to have options and flexibility within the squad right now, but Candeias deserves his spot on the right and I am sure he will add to his assists and goals totals between now and the end of the season.