MICHAEL BEALE is confident Rangers can turn the corner defensively now that Connor Goldson and Ben Davies are back in action this term.

Goldson returned to the starting line-up for the dramatic victory over Aberdeen on Tuesday night as he made his first appearance since hobbling off against Liverpool at Ibrox.

And he was joined by Davies at the heart of the defence for the closing stages as he made his second outing following another frustrating spell out of action this term.

Beale was forced to go with the unfamiliar pairing of John Lundstram and James Sands for his first Premiership clash against Hibernian last week and the American got the nod to start against the Dons.

But the requirement for makeshift line-ups could now be a thing of the past for Rangers as Goldson, Davies and Leon King battle it out for the two centre-back berths in the coming weeks.

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Beale revealed earlier this week that Goldson put himself forward to play against Hibernian despite only just returning to training in the days after his appointment as boss.

And he knows there must be a drastic improvement at the back after seeing Rangers concede two sloppy goals for the second consecutive Premiership fixture.

Beale said: “Fantastic that he is back. I don’t think anyone realises, other than Connor, myself and the rest of the squad, how little he has done.

“If it wasn’t Connor and it was a player that I didn’t know, maybe I wouldn’t have trusted him and trusted his body as much as I did this evening.

“For him to get through 90 minutes is fantastic and we are getting to the stage now where Ben should be fine as well. I thought you saw when Ben came on that we looked a little bit more stable.

“Again that is nothing against John or James that have played there in the last couple of games but they are midfielders.

“I am just delighted to get out of here with three points because I have come here before and dominated games and gone home with nothing or a point and it has hurt so to go back with three is a good sign and we go again on Friday.”