For most people, each New Year provides an opportunity for quiet reflection on times past while simultaneously making tentative plans for the future. Even football managers are allowed to indulge themselves during this period, pondering the wisdom of choices already made and those yet to come.

Unfortunately for Rangers manager Alex McLeish, it's yet another indulgence denied to Old Firm managers, up there with having an uninterrupted evening out with their wives, or the chance to become seasonably wellied in a public place.

McLeish, appointed as Rangers' eleventh manager in their 129-year history just three weeks ago, is still coming to terms with his new status. He has been so enveloped by recent events and the need to stamp his own mark on the ailing Glasgow giants that he has hardly had time to come to terms with the massive sea change his new position has made on his personal life, never mind his professional one.

He is clearly still finding his feet in newer, plusher surroundings than those to which he had become accustomed, but his determination to exacerbate the settling-in process is obvious enough.

All eyes are focused on his first signing at Ibrox and he spoke of the need to make a statement of intent with the new arrival, and the subsequent pressure involved. He also discussed the need to move fringe strikers on to new clubs in order to sign at least one new front man, while emphasing that his priority remains to bring in a ball-winning midfielder.

As he entered the media room at Murray Park, McLeish resembled a man from one of those old vaudeville acts which involved keeping an unfeasible number of plates simultaneously spinning on top of sticks. Yet, while he's still becoming accustomed to the demands now placed upon him, he appears to find his tasks as much exhilarating as they are exhausting.

Regarding that all-important first foray into the transfer market, he said: ''I don't want to waste the chairman's, or the club's, money. I need to make sure I'm bringing in the right person: someone who's better than what we already have.

''At the same time I'm aware that everyone is looking at me to make sure that my first signing is someone who makes an impact straight away but I'm no closer to doing that than I was when I started, although we're looking for someone with a bit of dig in the middle of the park.''

Even so, and allowing for the glut of forwards at the club, McLeish also pointed out that he intends to improve the quality at his disposal.

He stressed that no immediate move for Heerenveen's Michael Allback is likely, although he has watched him in the flesh as well as studying the dossier Rangers have on the Dutch striker.

''Hitting on the right formula up front is the hardest thing for us here, because we have so many options,'' he said. ''However, we are looking to bring someone else in in that department and, long-term, that will mean selling some of the players who are currently here.''

As for his position at the helm of one of the biggest clubs in Britain, McLeish admitted: ''There may be something at some point in the future which will show me just how big Rangers are. For the moment, though, I haven't had much time to draw breath.

''We've been here almost every day since I took over, so it's been just like a training camp. We're shut off from the rest of the world and there have been so many things to deal with, like arranging pre-match meals at hotels during the holiday period.

''You need to be meticulous and work in advance at this club and we've also had to deal with other issues, like organising extra training for the players who don't make the 16 for each match. Selecting those players remains the hardest part of the job at the moment, especially with the games coming as thick and fast as they have been.

''The time for reflecting will come at some point in the future. Right now, I'm more concerned with just getting the job done.''

Craig Moore is almost certain to miss out on the trip to Rugby Park for tomorrow night's match against Kilmarnock because of a recurring back injury but McLeish has no plans to persuade the defender to abandon the long-haul flights to Australia on international duty which are likely to aggravate the problem.

''I would never tell someone not to play for their country,'' said the proud possessor of 77 Scotland caps. ''Craig has a trapped nerve, which has bothered him for some time now, but rest and sessions with the chiropractor are the best things for him.

''In the meantime, I'm aiming to achieve the momentum a settled team brings but, at present, I neeed to rotate the players due to the number of games we're having to play. We've changed the tactics slightly and been reasonably successful.''

The future of (pounds) 12m striker Tore Andre Flo has been the subject of much speculation recently but McLeish yesterday gave assurances that the Norwegian's immediate future is at Ibrox.

''With our UEFA Cup tie against Feyenoord and the CIS Cup semi-final against Celtic coming up in February, this would be the perfect time for him to hit form,'' he said. ''He's proved he can score at the highest level, in the World Cup finals and the Champions League, and he's obviously a good finisher. This would be a good time for him to hit form.''

Having failed to beat Kilmarnock in two attempts as manager of Hibs this season, McLeish is hoping it will be third time lucky as Rangers attempt to keep their fading championship hopes alive but, like most observers, he has been impressed by the Ayrshire club's young players.

He said: ''The likes of Steve Murray, Paul do Giacomo, Kris Boyd, and Peter Canero have given Killie a lift and this match will represent another part of their education. At their age, though, they won't have any fear.''

Nor, of course, will McLeish himself. There is a lot to be said for avoiding introspection and, as someone who has been ringing in the new for almost a month, the Rangers manager looks in better nick than most of us will this morning.