Minsu Kim has earned his first South Korea call-up following an impressive start to life at Rangers.
This presents Derek McInnes with a fresh challenge in the coming weeks, just as the team is looking settled.
The attacker’s maiden international selection comes immediately after his standout role in the recent Old Firm derby victory over Celtic.
While he did not score or assist directly, Minsu was a very effective player for Rangers. His second-half pildriver stung the palms of Sam Johnstone, but unfortunately it was too central to trouble the English keeper.
Significant travel and increased workload for Minsu during the international break
South Korea will host four upcoming home friendlies against Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan.
While the recognition is a major milestone for Kim, the extensive travel and heavy fixture load will test the attacking depth at Ibrox.
The manager must now weigh up how best to rotate his frontline options, especially after the efforts of Ryan Naderi last Sunday.
He is also on the brink of his first international call, having chosen to represent Czechia.
McInnes will need to rely heavily on Kevin Kelsy and Naderi, while Bojan Miovski will be waiting to ease the attacking burden.
On the line behind, Djeidi Gassama, Findlay Curtis, and Badredine Bouanani will all need to stand up and be counted, so that there’s not too much emphasis on Minsu Kim.
Why Minsu Kim was picked for South Korea
Head coach Robert Moreno tracked the forward across his stints at Girona and Andorra before his move to Glasgow.
Speaking to the Glasgow Times, Moreno explained his reasoning: “I selected Kim Min-su based on his performances at his current club, Rangers.”
The Spanish manager praised his versatility, adding: “He is an excellent player capable of playing in several attacking roles.”
Moreno pointed out that a player’s last ten games matter most for national selection, noting: “This is because they are an indicator that best shows recent performances.”
For the Ibrox coaching staff, managing Kim’s physical output will be crucial. Alongside finding ways to restructure crucial set-piece routines, navigating this new wave of international commitments will define the club’s autumn schedule.
