Michael Beale insists it's news to him that Filip Helander is supposedly set to leave Rangers.

It was reported last week that the Swedish defender was on his way out of Ibrox.

A move to Malmo was mooted. But Beale seemed to dismiss any imminent departure of the centre-back.

Asked directly about the speculation, he replied: "That’s news to me. He’s a player that I like and a man that I like. He’s one that when you come back into the building and see that he’s on crutches and now the crutches are disappearing you wonder ‘how far away is he?’.

"There’s no news on that at the minute. But yeah, I’ve not heard that rumour."

With regards to another player on the sidelines for the long-term, Beale is adamant that people shouldn't rule out Steven Davis playing in a Rangers shirt again.

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The gaffer insists that he could not possibly replace what the Northern Irishman brings to the squad. 

He said: "I think you’ve seen in the last few weeks between John Lundstram, Glen Kamara and Ryan Jack that we’ve rotated. That’s been for different issues they’ve had.

"Now, they’ve got to fight it out because they’re all in a good place. We’ve also rotated a bit between Malik and Scott Arfield. At times we’ve played one in midfield and the other slightly further forward. Everyone knows where they stand.

"My job is to stand them next to each other outside so they can look at each other in the eyes and fight for the shirt. That’s it.

"I don’t feel that we need to bring someone in right now to replace Steven Davis and what he brought to this squad. What he brought was huge, we’re not able to replace it.

"He's a player who’s able to control the speed of the game. He’s a player that’s hugely experienced, he's a player that everyone in the dressing room listens to.

"I’m not going to be able to replace that with someone coming in from the outside straight away. By the end of this window and by the summer window I think you’ll see a player come in of that type.

"Then that player will, hopefully over time, do what Davo has done. Let’s not rule Steven Davis out yet though. He’s had the operation, he’s started he rehab and he’s got that look in his eyes, so let’s see."