Kevin Muscat, the soon-to-be Rangers boss, has broken his silence since being tipped for the Ibrox job, expressing his readiness to take on a title challenge with Shanghai Port. The Daily Record revealed that the Australian is set to succeed Russell Martin in the Ibrox dugout, with a multi-year contract agreement nearly finalised.

The Glasgow titans are currently negotiating a compensation fee with Port as Muscat remains under contract with the Chinese Super League until December 2026. As it stands, it’s doubtful that Muscat will be permitted to depart the reigning Chinese champions before the season concludes on November 22, given the club’s ongoing title race.

For this weekend’s clash against Dundee United, Under-19 coach Steven Smith will take charge of the Rangers, while Neil McCann is poised to step in temporarily until Muscat’s arrival, before joining his coaching staff.

Muscat, speaking for the first time since terms were agreed, is keeping his sights firmly set on retaining the Super League title in Shanghai.

Facing off against relegation-threatened Qingdao Hainiu, Muscat is not backing down from the current challenge and the “importance” of the title fight.

He said: “After the last AFC Champions League match, we had a break, and we used this time to review and summarise the previous games.

“The players, coaching staff, and staff had a short holiday with their families. After the break, the players worked very hard, giving a lot both mentally and physically.

“They did an excellent job in every training session and responded well to all the challenges in training. We are aware of the importance of the match and hope to put on a fantastic display to face it.”

Muscat declined to draw comparisons between the two teams based on league position, stating: “I’m not sure how to compare.

“It’s challenging to compare the performances of different teams in the standings against us, but what I can say is that our own performance is the most crucial aspect.

“We will demonstrate responsibility and reliability. This has been my emphasis since joining the team.

“Our own performance is paramount. It should be noted that no game is easy. We have to ensure we perform well and play as we should.

“This will be our primary focus tomorrow and we will do our utmost to deliver.”